/ 



OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

% Memorial Sftetdj of (Ellen p. Sljato. 



MORRISON AND GIBB, EDINBURGH, 
PRINTERS TO HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE. 



OUTLINES 

OF 

A GENTLE LIFE. 



a Jtaorial Sfcetrf) of (Bllm $♦ Sfjaiw, 



EDITED BY HER SISTER, 

MARIA v/g.' HAVERGAL. 



' In Thy presence is fulness of joy. 



NEW YORK: 

A. D. F. RANDOLPH & CO., 

38 TWENTY-THIRD STREET. 

1887. 



By £ tf § 

Atmy »nd Nav* 
May 27, fl2f 



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CONTENTS. 



CHAP. PAGE 

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER, I 

I. HOLY MEMORIES, 5 

II. SCHOOL DAYS, IO 

III. HOME LIFE, 17 

IV. MARRIAGE AND A HOME IN IRELAND, . . . .28 

V. RETURN TO ENGLAND — NEW HOME AT WINTERDVNE, 

WORCESTERSHIRE, 45 

VI. LAST DAYS AND SUDDEN GLORY, 64 



LETTERS TO HER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN, 85 



BIBLE NOTES, 131 



OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE 



INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 

/^VNE of God's beautiful mysteries in 
^-^ nature is the varied, invisible, and 
inseparable perfume of flowers ; they may 
hide beneath their leaves or greenery 
surrounding, yet cannot conceal their 
fragrance. 

And thus it was with the life of my sister 
Ellen, whose humility, meekness, and un- 
selfishness adorned her earthly home, till 
most suddenly gathered and transplanted to 
the King's fairer garden. It is only possible 
to give some outlines of that gentle life, 

A 



2 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

and this is done by the express wish of 
her husband. He desires that God's glory 
may shine forth to others, as they read her 
clear testimony to the preciousness of God's 
Word, and how she adorned the doctrine of 
God her Saviour in all things. 

Not forgetting the interest many friends 
may feel in this Memorial, her husband 
wishes to circulate these pages among the 
large number of excursionists, who in 
former years have received so many books 
at her hand. Thousands have been per- 
mitted to wander freely in the picturesque 
and shady walks of Winterdyne. Fervent 
prayer preceded effort for their good ; Mr. 
and Mrs. Shaw would then take baskets full 
of books — such as Mr. Stevenson Black- 
wood's, Rev. George Everards, and Reid's, 
with F. R. Havergal's Memoir, ' Royal 
Invitation/ etc. etc., offering them with 
kindly words to the strangers. 

In former years, her sister, F. R. 



INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



Havergal, occasionally and energetically 
assisted with voice in holy song, as well 
as hand, in giving away flowers at these 
gatherings ; and they seem to have suggested 
the following lines in her poem of ' The 
Sowers/ as in her own copy she has written 
* Mr. Shaw ' against these lines : — 

' Another watched the sowers longingly : 

" I cannot sow such seed as they," he said ; 
" No shining grain of thought is given to me, 

No fiery words of power bravely sped. 
Will others give me of their bounteous store ? 
My hand may scatter that, if I can do no more." 

' So by the wayside he went forth to sow 

The silent seeds, each wrapped in fruitful prayer, 
With glad humility ; content to know 

The volume lent, the leaflet culled with care, 
The message placed in stranger hands, were all 
Beneath His guiding eye who notes the sparrow's fall/ 

A few words from one of Mrs. Shaw's last 
letters convey the fragrance of her faith and 
hope. ' When I look at the Fifteenth Psalm, 
in the light of Revelation vii., and I see how 



4 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

that innumerable multitude stand before the 
throne, I take comfort in seeing that I can 
claim admission with them, for I have the 
same right, the same passport — " the blood of 
the Lamb ! " Washed in that all-atoning blood 
from omissions, commissions, and failures, and 
clothed in His perfect righteousness instead 
of my own, I hope and expect to " abide in 
His holy hill." ^ 

MARIA V. G. HAVERGAL. 

Winterdyne, February 19, 1887. 



CHAPTER I 



HOLY MEMORIES. 



ASTLEY RECTORY, Worcestershire, 
is no longer an unknown name. Holy 
memories cluster around its home and adjoin- 
ing churchyard. And holy footprints may 
yet be tracked among his people, of the 
faithful ambassador of Christ, the Rev. W. 
H. Havergal ; while his home influence 
twines with the bright life of his youngest 
daughter, Frances. 

The church, built on high ground, com- 
mands extensive views. 

'. . . . See Woodbury's outline grand, 
Upon whose crest the ancient Briton camped. 
Oh, lovely are the walks that curve between, 
From Yarrow up the Toot 
Back to the meadow in our view, where once 
Lily and Rose, our cows, were often seen, 
And sometimes Gentle, our fine faithful horse ; 
And there each other year we made the hay ; 

5j 



6 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

Our pastor father, with well-ordered mind, 
Gave orchard, study, parish, each due care. 
We mimic children, played at church and school, 
And grew up handy, hardy, in our country life.' 

— J. Miriam Crane. 

The rectory garden then was fair, and it 
was our mothers delight to train the flowers 
with skill and care. In its shrubbery nooks, 
as well as flower-borders, snowdrops grew 
luxuriantly. When children, we transplanted 
them from the Astley snowdrop wood, where 
they grew in thousands ; their dark green 
tufts, crested with snowy bells, springing from 
under the dead bracken and tangles of moss 
and ivy. 

With February they came, and on Feb- 
ruary 19, 1823, came our home snowdrop, 
Ellen, third daughter of the Rev. W. H. 
Havergal and Jane his wife. Her memory 
seems always associated with this flower, as 
appears from her sister Miriam's lines (her- 
self only seven years old) on her second 
birthday : — 

' Pretty little sister dear, 
See a snowdrop bud appear, 
All beneath the shady tree 
Which, my sweet, resembles thee ! ' 



NURSERY DAYS. 



And in after years her own children delighted 
in the long drive from Winterdyne to the 
same Astley snowdrop wood, to gather 
baskets full of ' mothers flower ' as a birth- 
day offering. 

Even as a little child, Ellen possessed the 
ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, ever 
hiding away self and preferring to please 
others, regardless of her own wishes — 

1 So many nice scruples arise in the way, 
Whenever we wish her, her own self to please, 
Or take for herself some comfort and ease ! ; 

— F. R. H. 

Once I questioned our maid about the old 
nursery days, and she told me that she never 
knew Miss Ellen naughty but once, and that 
was to defend sister Maria when corrected ! 
Also, that she was a most good-natured 
child, dressing up her dolls to give away, 
and other playthings. Her skill in doll- 
dressing extended afterwards in making 
artistic costumes of various nations, and to 
her delight these dolls were sold for the 
Church Missionary Society. (It was always 
a pleasure at Astley Rectory to help that.) 
She learnt knitting from a dear old widow — 



8 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

she was never an idle, listless child — and 
after learning her little lessons with mother, 
would quietly work and amuse herself. 
Some of my earliest and holiest remem- 
brances are of our dear mothers Bible 
lessons on Sunday. Both Ellen and myself 
were much impressed one night, rather later 
than usual, with mothers words about the 
holy happy heaven, and the great love of 
Jesus, and they roused me to keen attention, 
and I thought, * Mamma and Ellen are good, 
and sure to go to heaven ; I wish I was/ 

We often wondered why our mother 
always went to her own room some time 
before tea, and we determined to discover 
what she did. Opening the door, there she 
sat reading her large Bible. We thought 
much more of the Bible from that time, and 
I believe Ellen early followed that example, 
and certainly did so in later years, retiring 
from any other pursuit for those hallowed 
moments. 

' My good little Ellen,' or ' Papas harm- 
less dove,' was his home call ; and his 
birthday lines must close her childhoods 
page :— 



A FEBRUARY QUEEN. 



'To Ellen, on her Third Birthday. 

1 1 9/// February 1826. 

' Come, my pretty little love, 
Sweet and harmless as the dove ; 
You, my February Queen ! 
Paper-crowned with pink and green, 
Happy, happy may you be, 
Often as this day you see. 
Onward as through life you go, 
May the Bible you well know ! 
And when days and years are fled, 
And you sleep among the dead, 
May your spirit happy be, 
With the Great and Holy Three, 
Clad in robes of holiness, 
Crowned with everlasting bliss.' 

— Rev. W. H. Havergal 



CHAPTER II 



SCHOOL-DAYS. 



LIVING in a retired country rectory, my 
father thought it desirable to give his 
daughters such school training and education 
as would fit them for useful and happy lives. 
Great Campden House was then a well- 
known school, attended by first-rate pro- 
fessors from London, with other educational 
advantages ; so Ellen's home life and gover- 
ness were exchanged for school, and the 
penetrating and persuasive Bible teaching 
of Mrs. Teed. There was no vacancy on 
the first application, but the death of one of 
the pupils made way for her admission in 
March 1838. 

Eagerly did I watch for Ellens arrival, 
and very pleasant was it to introduce her to 
our many companions, and show her the 



SCHOOL-DAYS. n 



historic tapestried rooms and chapel of 
Queen Anne, and the quaint wood-carvings 
in one of the spacious schoolrooms. The 
garden walks were extensive, and beneath 
the terrace there was, as supposed in olden 
times, a subterranean passage to the House 
of Lords — but our curiosity might never 
penetrate that. 

I did not then know the secret of 
my sister's anxiety to come to school, 
and it is only eighteen months ago that 
I found it out ! I was then staying at 
Hertford, and during a visit from Ellen 
(Mrs. Shaw) invited some of the dear 
girls from Christ's Hospital to breakfast. 
She then gave them this account of how 
and when God's Word brought her peace 
and joy : — 

It was in March 1838 that I first went to school at 
Great Campden House, Kensington. I was so dis- 
appointed when, the Christmas previous, Mrs. Teed 
wrote that she had no room for me ; so I was glad 
when the letter came in March, for I thought I shall 
surely find out for myself what I could not then at all 
believe. I will tell you the secret why I wished to go 
to school. It was not that I wanted to get on with 
lessons and accomplishments only, though I really was 
very glad of the opportunity of learning more than I could 



12 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

at home, for I was nearly fifteen, and had not been years 
at school like my sisters. For many reasons I was glad 
to go and learn ; but the secret was, that then I hoped 
I should really find the Lord Jesus as my own Saviour. 
I had for long been so miserable. I knew all about 
Christ, and had had much sweet teaching at home. 
But I heard that the governess, Mrs. Teed, was so good, 
and I knew that many of her pupils had really found 
Christ. It was on a cold morning in March 1838 that 
papa drove me at 4 a.m. to Worcester to meet the 
'Star' coach to London, which started at 6 a.m., going 
through Oxford and High Wycombe, where dear, saintly 
grandmamma Havergal met me. The coach arrived at 
Kensington between 7 and 8 p.m. A teacher, Miss 
Green, met me and took me into the back parlour 
for tea, and then I had a chair close to the door 
of the schoolroom, where evening prayers were going 
on. I heard the organ, and I suppose some one 
gave me a book for the hymn, which I have never 
forgotten ; it was — 

' How condescending and how kind 
Was God's eternal Son ! 
Our misery reached His heavenly mind, 
And pity brought Him down. 

' When justice, by our sins provoked, 
Drew forth its dreadful sword, 
He gave His soul up to the stroke 
Without a murmuring word. 

' He sunk beneath our heavy woes, 

To raise us to His throne ; 
There's not a gift His hand bestows, 
But cost His heart a groan. 



SCHOOL-DAYS. 13 



' This was compassion like a God, 

That when the Saviour knew 
The price of pardon was His blood, 
His pity ne'er withdrew. 

' Now though He reigns exalted high, 

His love is still as great ; 

Well He remembers Calvary, 

Nor let His saints forget. 

1 Here let our hearts begin to melt, 

While we His death record, 
And, with our joy for pardoned guilt, 
Mourn that we pierced the Lord ! ' 

— Isaac Watts. 

And then sister Maria came to meet me and introduce 
me to school-life. 

And I was not disappointed. God did not disappoint 
my hope, for before many weeks I found it all true. It 
was on Good Friday, 5th April 1838, that our chaplain, 
the Rev. Joseph Parker, preached on Isa. liii. 5 : ' But 
He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised 
for our iniquities : the chastisement of our peace was 
upon Him ; and with His stripes we are healed.' He 
spoke so simply and sweetly — did we each for our- 
selves believe that Jesus, God's dear Son, was wounded 
for our transgressions — bruised for our iniquity ? When 
it came to my usual time for going alone to read my 
Bible, I looked at the verse, and as I looked at the 
words they shone into my soul, and I just believed 
that Jesus was bruised for me, and that He had suffered 
for my transgressions, and so all my sin was gone, and 
there was nothing now but peace between me and my 
Father* And so that verse became my glorious way- 



14 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

mark, and the peace it gave me has lasted on all these 
years.— (1838-1885). 

Many can testify to the reality of this early 
conversion, and therefore being justified by 
faith, and having peace with God through 
our Lord Jesus Christ, good fruit appeared, 
and henceforth she walked most 'justly, 
holily, and unblameably.' 

i It was the rising ! the first hour 

Of the true shining, that should rise and rise 
From glory unto glory, through God's skies, 
In strengthening brightness and increasing power. 
A rising with no settling, for its height 
Could only culminate in God's eternal light. 
• ••»»• 

1 And so the years flowed on and only cast 
Light and more light upon the shining way, 
That more and more shone to the perfect day ; 
Always intenser, clearer than the past ; 
Because they only bore her on glad wing 
Nearer the Light of Light, the presence of the King.' 

— ' Zenith/ F. R. H. 

I rejoiced in my sister's popularity at 
school, her winsome gentleness ensuring 
many friends. In Gods providential hand, 
one of her school friendships was the forging 
of a golden link, riveted in her happy mar- 
riage and home in Ireland, and afterwards 
at Winterdyne. 



SCHOOL-DAYS. 15 



On leaving Campden House, Ellen re- 
ceived prizes and a silver medal for drawing 
from Mons. de Riviere. She excelled in 
crayon heads and figures, and with further 
lessons at home attained proficiency, and she 
eventually sold many pictures, devoting the 
profit to the Church Missionary Society. 

From Mrs. Teed she received a Reference 
Bible, the special token of her approval, with 
the words, ' The Lord grant that my beloved 
child may grow in grace and in the know- 
ledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ/ 

Mrs. Teed's appreciation of her character 
is shown by this mention of Ellen after she 
had left school 

To M. V. G. H., 1841. 

' Great Campden House. 

. . . ' And how are you prospering ? Are you looking 
into self where no good thing dwells, or looking to Jesus 
who is all fair, and in whose righteousness we are all 
fair too ? Are you, an unrighteous sinner, living by 
faith upon the perfect righteousness of the God-man 
Christ Jesus ? The effect of this righteousness is peace 
and quietness and assurance and holy living ; for if our 
garments have been made white at such a cost, there 
will be a holy fear of spotting them, — a dove cannot 
live with a spot on its silver feathers. Keep near to the 



16 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

Lord Jesus ; they that wait upon the Lord shall renew 
their strength. 

6 1 hope you pray daily with my sweet dove Ellen. I 
hope you found her improved in her studies ; how I 
shall miss her I cannot tell. Love to your dear, dear 
father and sweet mother and Miriam. I love many at 
Astley Rectory, and have reason to do so. — Your affec- 
tionate friend, M. A. Teed.' 



CHAPTER III 



HOME LIFE. 



SCHOOL days were followed by the 
uneventful period of home life at 
Astley Rectory ; taking share with her 
sisters in the Sunday school. Her collecting- 
book for the C. M. S. showed loving 
diligence, many entries being of quarterly 
pennies and even halfpence from the 
scattered cottages. During the summer 
holidays she delighted in assisting sister 
Miriam in her large sewing and knitting 
class. 

Studies were not neglected, and on our 
removal from Astley to Henwick House, she 
had lessons in German from Herr Lorenz, 
and it was then her little sister Fanny 
listened and learned precociously, though 
unobserved. Ellens translations from Goethe 

B 



1 8 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

and Schiller are fluent and poetical, or as 
F. R. H. said, 'first-rate.' 

In 1844 our dear father accepted the rectory 
of St. Nicholas, Worcester. Her delicate 
health often prevented her from working in 
the parish according to her most earnest 
desires. I know how intensely she longed 
to work for Christ, how prayerfully and 
diligently she prepared every lesson for her 
class, and how deeply the gentle teacher was 
loved. Some conversations with her sick 
scholars are given in ' Pleasant Fruits/ 

With her needlework she almost entirely 
supported a child in an Indian orphanage. 
Solid useful books were regularly read, and 
abstracts written. We were thankful that 
our dear parents' example and wish kept us 
from wasting time on novels. 

Our sweet mothers long and severe illness, 
from 1845-48, brought our first and darkest 
shadow. Then it was that Ellens home 
ministry shone with unvarying and unceasing 
brightness. No classes, no pleasures ever 
kept her from her mother 's side. Not satis- 
fied with the night nurse's attendance, Ellen 
would steal gently down to her mother's room, 



HOME LIFE. 



19 



soothing and alleviating the weary nights, 
and bringing comfort untold, unseen, save to 
the Eye that never slumbers or sleeps. Yes, 
I must bear witness to my sisters self-sacri- 
ficing and dutiful love, a true pattern to 
myself and daughters in general. 

Some time after our dear mothers blessed 
rest and most peaceful departure, on the 5th 
July 1848, sister Miriam sent her a miniature 
likeness of her mother. Ellen writes : — 

When I first looked at the beautiful and well-known 
features, I thought, ' Oh that those lips had language ! ' 
Then again I thought — if it were so, they would only 
speak our sorrowful words — only a little while, and 
when I shall meet my loved mother in her glorious 
home, what new and unimagined tones of love and 
joy and peace will she then speak ! what, oh what 
will it be to hear her new and tuneful voice. And 
again I thought — no pain, no passing shadows will 
then dim that beloved face ; and if so lovely when 
with us, how fairer still will she be then, reflecting the 
beauty of her Saviour, who ever was to her the 
1 Altogether Lovely/ 

Our dear father always specially honoured 
Ellen for her 'piety at home/ and at her 
wedding breakfast he emphatically referred 
to this characteristic trait, and of her mothers 



20 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

special blessing resting upon her. In our 
fathers will he made special bequest to 
' his most dutiful daughter Ellen/ of the 
elegant silver cake basket which the 
parishioners of Astley had presented to 
our dear mother, Jane Havergal, ' in 
remembrance of her uniform kindness, 
March 1842/ 

In the autumn of 1853, we both spent 
some weeks with Mrs. Gross of Ayr, to 
whom she addressed these lines on her 
birthday : — 

Birthday Thoughts for an Aged Friend 

He who has led thee all the way, 

To silvery hairs and life's decay, 

Will not forsake thee now 

When many a care hath aged thy brow. 

Wait patiently — and thou shalt see 

Thy God aye waits for thee. 

Light has He sown, it soon shall rise 

With gladness on thy longing eyes \ 

Till then, though evils hedge thy way, 

Thy shield He proves by night or day ; 

Leading thee where thou soon shalt see 

Him face to face continually. 

Loving God's law, sweet peace shall roll 

As deepening rivers in thy soul. 



PASSING CLOUDS. 21 

Rejoice then, in the Lord rejoice ! 
And listen to His faithful voice, 
1 With blessing thou art surely blest, 
Rely on Me for endless rest.' 

-E. P. H, 1853. 

Eighteen hundred and fifty-three was a 
sorrowful year. Our dear fathers illness 
and blindness detained him in Germany, and 
scattered our home circle. Ellen was also 
recovering from illness, and the sea-breezes 
of Ayrshire were most beneficial. Her 
graceful, fragile figure was quite a contrast 
to the sturdy Scotch lassies. Indeed, visitors 
called her ' the sweet English angel ; ' and 
her peaceful smile and simple words about 
the Lord Jesus, won many new friends. 
With the close of the year, the clouds bright- 
ened, and our home recall came. 

Thoughts the Night before going Home, 
after Long Absence. 

December 1853. 
Another stage of life is drawing to its close — 
Strange have its wanderings been, nor few its woes, — 
Sickness and sorrow heavy on us lay, 
While each one wandered in a solitary way. 
Yet sunshine sometimes pierced the clouds, and showed 
A wayside flower, or where a streamlet flowed. 
Why were we scattered from our much-loved home ? 
Why did we journey each as pilgrims lone? 



22 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

E'en as an eagle stirreth up her nest 

The Lord did warn us, f this is not your rest' 

Did He not often lead His own aside 

By burning bush, or pillar'd cloud, and guide 

His followers to some lone mountain-side, 

That they might learn, * In Me ye must abide ' ? 

So did He lead us ; and when storms rose high 

Drew nearer, whispering, * It is I.' 

Oh, let me listen still to that sweet voice, 

And in Thy love and guiding grace rejoice. 

— The morning dawns — the shadows flee away, 

My longings wake — I'm going home to-day ! 

No sweeter joy my heart shall know 

Till ends my pilgrimage below. 

And yearning for my Saviour's breast — 

He beckons — ' Come to Me and rest, 

To-day in Paradise with Me be blest ! ' 

— E. P. H. 

The St. Nicholas bells were ringing the 
home-welcome, but we did not know how 
eagerly one of Ellen's class was listening and 
longing to see her teacher. Little Sarah had 
been a rather troublesome child, and yet she 
would squeeze her teachers hand even when 
chiding her. And she would run home to 
grannie in the almshouse, and tell her, ' I was 
naughty at school to-day, but Miss Ellen 
told me of it, and I can't bear to vex her, 
and she does want me to be Jesus' little 
lamb.' The texts learnt at school were 



LOVING LITTLE SARAH. 23 

found again in grannies great Bible, and the 
same great Bible was carried by Sarah to 
church, tripping by grannie in her ancient 
satin bonnet and hooded cloak. 

We were in Scotland when the child's 
illness came. Sarah read her Bible much, 
and consequently found comfort ; but her one 
longing was, * Grannie, can't I live to see 
Mr. Havergal and dear Miss Ellen ? I must 
tell them Jesus loves me, and saves me ; 
won't they like to see me happy ? ' 

She heard the bells, and the loving little 
heart was beating her dying welcome, 
' Grannie, they will come now! She asked 
for the old Bible, and the 14th chapter of 
St. John, and then she slept. Just as the 
chimes ceased, One dearer than pastor or 
teacher came, and little Sarah was gathered 
with the Shepherd's arm. 

It may encourage some wearied teacher, 
who seems ever sowing and never reaping, to 
read how surely God's promise comes true, 
' My word shall not return unto Me void.' 
Let us follow my sister to the bedside of one 
of her scholars in the first class of St. 
Nicholas Sunday school. A reference Bible 



24 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

is open by Susans side ; it is well worn — a 
good index of its value to the owner. Susan 
takes it up saying, ' My Bible is all my 
comfort now, it's so sweet to me. I hardly 
care to go to sleep for thinking of it, and the 
night never seems long, verse after verse 
brings me so many sweet thoughts. Yester- 
day I was so ill, and thought I was dying.' 

Teacher. ' And could you trust yourself 
in the hands of the Lord Jesus?' 

Susan. 'Yes, quite so. He is such a 
Saviour, I could not be afraid. He is very 
precious to me, and I love to think of Him/ 

Teacher. ' Are you not thankful, Susan, 
that the Lord Jesus has taught you thus to 
know and love Him ? ' 

Susan. 'Yes, I do thank Him, but I thank 
Him too for sending you to teach me; oh, I 
do thank you so, Miss Ellen ! ' 

Another visit, Susan remarked, ' I am 
proud of my Sunday school ; it's a blessed 
thing to go to one. I was at St. Nicholas 
school for eleven years, and do thank God 
for your teaching. How I listened and tried 
to remember and ponder over all you said, 
through the week ! You used to beg us to 



THE DYING SCHOLAR. 25 

seek the Lord Jesus, and to pray for the 
Holy Spirit ; and if you had not, perhaps I 
should have gone in wicked ways. How 
you warned us Sunday after Sunday, and 
pointed us to Jesus, the living way! And 
what should I do now, without all the 
Scripture you encouraged us to learn? 
When I lie awake at night it all comes back 
into my mind so sweet, and when I am too 
weak to hold my Bible, the verses come in 
my mind like food. I wish all my class 
would attend to the Bible more ; it's after 
they will want it J 

February 12. — A cold wintry day, with 
snow falling thickly. It was an effort and 
risk for Ellen to brave the long walk through 
the storm, but she felt a strong impulse not 
to delay her visit. She found Susan weary 
and uncomfortable. Her teacher smoothed 
the tumbled pillows, and brushed her tangled 
hair, and sponged her feverish hands, and 
then she sat down and wiped away the 
gathering death-drops on her scholar s face, 
saying, ' " God shall wipe away all tears from 
their eyes ; and there shall be no more 
death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither 



26 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE, 

shall there be any more pain," and it will 
be very soon now, dear Susan/ 

1 Yes, He will, He will. But my Saviour 
had no kind hand to do for Him what you 
have been doing for me. I have pure 
water and nice things to refresh me — the 
Lord Jesus had none — only that vinegar and 
gall on the sponge.' 

And then they talked together of the 
coming glory. Long had she watched the 
fruits of grace springing up in her scholars 
soul, and now the Holy Spirit had ripened 
her for glory. She lingered long by the bed- 
side ; it was not easy to loose the dying hand 
that would never again hold hers so lovingly. 
But they parted, and Susan's last whisper, 
' Full of hope, dear teacher,' gave a glance 
through the opening door into the bright 
home she was entering. And when the even- 
ing came, Susan passed within the gate, — 

1 Above the splendours of the sky, 
To view Him face to face.' 

Reference has been made to one of my 
sister's school friendships. The following 
letter gives a gleam of that sympathy which 
she so truly felt for others. 



SYMPATHY. 27 



Oak hampton, iqthjuly 1850 

Can the account sent me from the Record be really 
true, my F. ? I can scarcely realize that your much loved 
treasure is snatched away, how then can you? Oh, 
my F., how I grieve for you ! Yet it is no c strange 
thing' that has happened. The husbandman and 
shepherd are wont to remove ripened fruits and loved 
sheep to the place prepared for them ; and now that your 
heavenly Father has done as seemed Him good, may 
His grace enable you to say, ' Even so, Father ; not my 
will, but Thine, be done.' 

It must indeed be a bitter cup, a heart-rending wound, 
yet I know as your day, so your strength. May faith be 
strong and hope bright to enable you to pierce the cloud, 
and confide in the love that has thus appointed, and to 
receive the comfort which cometh from God alone. Who 
comforteth like Him ? not by removing the trial, but 
showing it to be a very proof of His love, and of our 
fellowship with Him — a means and channel of richest 
blessing. Surely this one is to wean you from earth and 
its miserable comforters and 'cast' you upon Jesus in 
His fulness and all-sufficiency as your all in all, and thus 
enable you to press forward to where we shall all be one 
in Christ Jesus. How often have you prayed for such 
things, — may this be the means of your obtaining. 

I thought of you last night as I read, ' I have been 
cast upon Thee ever since I was born.' Is it not sorrow 
and trial that ' casts ' us upon our God ? Our flesh, our 
heart, our props all fail ; we have nothing left but to rest 
in Him. What a rock to be ' cast ' upon ! so sure, so 
sheltering ; never failing — all-sufficient, because a smitten 
rock. May its healing streams abound to you while you 
find shelter there in this storm of sorrow ! . . . — Your 
affectionate friend, E. P. Havergal. 



CHAPTER IV. 

MARRIAGE AND A HOME IN IRELAND. 

WE are permitted to unveil some letters 
after Ellen's happy engagement to 
Giles Shaw, Esq. of Celbridge Lodge, 
County Kildare, and the wise and prayerful 
spirit in which she looked forward to this 
new step in life. 

To G. S. 

Worcester, November 1855. 

And of what should my first letter be, but of Him who 
is our first friend, our first object, our first or ' exceed- 
ing joy ' ? His love to us is from everlasting, ours is but 
just commenced, but was it not from Him ? did He not 
shed His love abroad in our hearts, and then drew us 
by it to each other ? Then may our hearts, being ' knit 
together' by His love, be ever receiving increasing 
supplies of it that shall bind us closer to Him. I would 
love you much, but I would love Him most, because 
He ' first loved me, and gave Himself for me. 5 Do you 
think these two rules would help us to love Him 



LETTERS BEFORE MARRIAGE. 29 

more, — that whenever we think of each other, especially 
in absence, we should also think of Him who is ' with 
us always,' while we are with Him. Also, that when- 
ever we observe anything, either defective or pleasing in 
each other, we should make it an occasion to admire 
Him who is ' without blemish or spot/ and altogether 
lovely. ... E. P. H. 

To G. S. 

Lansdowne Crescent, 

nth December 1855. 

The snow prevented me from going into the parish 
this morning, so I had the pleasure of going to my room 
at noon and doing as I hoped you then did. My 
chapter happened to be Matt. xvii. I felt it was indeed 
6 good 1 to 'come apart' from the rest and be awhile in 
the presence of Jesus. It seemed as if you and I might, 
and did, ascend far higher than that happy mount, even 
to that Mount Zion whither He is gone before us. 
And if we cannot yet see His brightness with bodily 
eyes, faith can discern something of His brightness as 
the ' sun of our souls/ the ' Sun of Righteousness.' I 
could not but pray, ' Lord, show me> show us Thyself.' 
He has arisen upon our souls with healing in His beams. 
May He now shine more brightly upon us, not only to 
cheer with His bright beams of love, but to reflect upon 
us more of His image. Oh to be changed into His 
image here, and into His glory hereafter ! Surely He 
did (as you say) ' meet us on that occasion ' ! How 
gracious of Him to do so ! . . . E. P. H. 

December 1855. 

I hope our Sunday enjoyment has been mutual, — 
to me there seemed new need for every prayer, new 



30 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE, 

cause for every praise, and a new light and value in 
precepts and promises, which it would have been delight- 
ful to have enjoyed with you. Never was I so struck 
before with the figure brought to our notice by our 
Church, of Christ as the Branch. ' I sat under His 
shadow with great delight/ and thought of Him as His 
Father's 6 plant of renown/ ' daily His delight,' and yet 
transplanted by Him to our desert world. Those to 
whom He was first given saw no beauty in Him, but 
thanks be to God if He enables us to see that He is 
6 beautiful and glorious/ and 'altogether lovely.' We 
look unto Him and see Him as a branch drooping and 
oppressed, with the burden of our sin, laden with the 
imputation of our guilt and sentences of death. We 
look again, and see He is the only ' righteous Branch ' in 
this ' dry ground/ — and more than this, that He is our 
Righteousness. We go and ' sit under His shadow/ 
and are 'revived/ sheltered, and refreshed, — we find 
His fruit is not only for ' healing ' to our sin-wounded 
hearts, but that it is 'sweet to our taste/ and in full 
confidence it will ' never fail/ we may say — c Feed me 
till I want no more ! ' 

Nor is this enough, we must be ' graffed into ' this 
glorious Branch and ' abide in Him.' And how gracious 
a command is this ; I feel it so very much just now when 
so much is before me, and yet, that ' separate from Him ' 
I can do nothing. Oh that I may so abide as to 
become neither barren nor unfruitful in holiness. I had 
many other thoughts about this beauteous Branch which 
shall * spread through all lands.' Only, if it is pleasant 
to be under the shade of what seems now to our blind 
eyes but as a Branch, what will be the fulness of our joy 
when we behold Him as the Tree of Life in the midst of 
the Paradise of God ! 



LETTERS BEFORE MARRIAGE. 31 

18M December 1855. 

My class chapter, Gen. xlii., for to-morrow has been 
showing me how much of the gospel is laid up for us 
in the rolls of the Old Testament, — how Jesus is set 
forth to the spiritual eye. I want to impress my dear 
class with the thought (ver. 5) that every earthly good 
must at some time prove barren and disappointing (a 
lesson for myself)^ that it will be only in the heavenly 
Canaan that we shall 'hunger no more/ The con- 
sequence of neglecting to seek spiritual food (John iii. 
18, 36, vi. 53). To point them to the true Joseph who 
gives His own body for our food, and is a full store- 
house for all our wants (Prov. viii. 17, 21 ; John vi. 35 ; 
Col. i. 19; John i. 14, 16). No price to be given by 
us (Isa. lv. 1). As Joseph spoke 'roughly,' so God 
shows ' hard things ' to His sons — pricks the conscience, 
convinces of sin, awakens His north wind, or sends trial 
like His pruning-knife — and why all this? — to convict, 
search, cleanse, and prune, and so fit them to receive 
comfort in the revelation of Himself. So would I warn 
them of sin and danger, and then direct them to Jesus. 
He will bring sin to remembrance — show us ourselves 
first and then Himself. Here I may repeat the little 
book, ' Shew me myself.' 

Is it not thus that He has dealt with you and me ? 
Was not His heart full of tenderness, melting with love 
when He sent chastening to either ? Oh ! I hope that 
in all the pleasant things He is showing me now, He will 
yet reveal Himself 'more clearly, not let me be taken up 
with the things themselves, nor let me ' set my affections f 
even upon one object more than upon Himself, who is 
infinitely lovely, worthy, and precious. 

The thought strikes me, too, that as Joseph gave corn 
and yet reserved the display of his affection and the 



32 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

knowledge of himself for a future time, so the Saviour 
gradually unfolds to us the riches of His grace, the 
knowledge of Himself, and of His will, just as He fits 
us to receive it. He gives, like Joseph, a present 
supply, and waits for us to come again when we are in 
want. Then if we are hungering now for more of 
the Bread of Life which we have already tasted, will 
He not supply us again ? — let us ' open our mouths wide 
that He may fill ' them. < My soul with all Thy fulness 
fill.' ... E. P. H. 

December 1855. 

I wish I knew the hour for your Saturday Bible class, 
and of your Sunday readings ; it would be so nice to 
think of you just then, for I hope always to help you in 
them by seeking for you the help that cometh from above. 
Another thing I should like to know — at what time or 
hours I may specially meet you in spirit at our Father's 
footstool? 

I am so thankful that you have such praying friends ; 
social prayer seems so little used as it might and ought 
to be ; it is what I have often longed to enjoy more of, 
and now God seems to be giving me my heart's desire. 

I did not know Mr. Bradley's sermon on the Branch, 
— indeed it was because I could not remember hearing 
or reading anything upon the subject, that I tried to 
think for myself, and was surprised, as we often are, to 
find a single twig of the word of life bearing so much 
fruit. My subject for my little class next Sunday after- 
noon is, the Things to which the Word of God is compared. 
I want to get time to study it, that I may the better 
estimate its value. 



LETTERS BEFORE MARRIAGE. 33 

2\st December 1855. 

To help you to one pleasant, profitable thought seems 
a sweet privilege, but it makes me feel that in myself I 
am 'poor and needy,' and need to say, ' cleanse the 
thoughts of my heart,' and teach me to think ' such 
things as are good.' I would be hearing what the Lord 
doth speak, watching daily at His gates, waiting at His 
door, that i His thoughts ' may become ' dearer J to me, 
and my own be moulded more like His. And if we 
have even a desire after holy thoughts, is it not because 
1 the Lord thinketh upon us,' to keep us from our own 
naturally earthly ones? 

It has been altogether a happy morning. I went 
down to the vestry, and made it my business to go into 
the church, where the recipients await their turn, and 
tried to say a word in season to the different groups, and 
so, while allaying their impatience, to lead their thoughts 
to the Giver of all — the best gift, etc. Then I had an 
errand or two to some who could not come to receive, 
— one, a poor man, who said, i It was twenty years last 
week, Miss, since I took to my bed. Not a day but 
those words come to my mind, " I will not leave you 
comfortless," etc., and they make all my sufferings seem 
but a dream.' 

Then I went to collect the last of my quarterly mis- 
sionary subscriptions, and was quite refreshed by another 
nice talk. How good is God to give such ! Many a 
thought passed of this being (so far as we know) my last 
St. Thomas' Day at home — the new stewardship I am 
(D. V.) to enter upon. And yesterday, at the examination 
of our National School by the Bishop, as I looked on 
the dear little faces as they sang their Hosanna, my 
imagination flew across the Channel to the Irish faces 
that will be all strange at first, but which I fancy I love 

C 



34 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

already, and long to teach them, too, of 'the new 
song.' ... E. P. H. 

2.\th Deceniber 1855. 

A happy Christmas to you ! — happy in the possession 
of thousand blessings from the ' upper and nether 
springs/ — happy in the full enjoyment of that one best 
gift which is the source and pledge of all others. Oh ! 
is not this Christmas gift from our Heavenly Father a 
precious one? Let us try to rejoice more in it. I was 
trying yesterday to teach my little class something of its 
greatness from Hebrews i., which tells of His Godhead, 
His creating and upholding power, His throne of 
righteousness and majesty, — the worship He receives, 
and His eternity. Yet He left all this, laid aside His 
robes of Light and Majesty, took off His crown, left His 
kingdom, exchanged heaven for earth— His Father's 
bosom for a hard manger in a poor stable — the love and 
adoration of angels for the unconscious presence of brute 
beasts, etc. And why did He thus? Matt. i. 21 ; Luke 
xix. 10; John iii. 16; Acts iii. 26; 2 Cor. viii. 9; 1 Tim. 
i. 15; Titus ii. 14, and iii. 6, 7 ; 1 John iv. 9, 10, and 
many other Scriptures tell us. Is it not then a precious 
gift ? As we think of it, may our hearts burn within us, 
so that they cry out, ' Thanks be unto God for His 
unspeakable gift ! ' It is all our ' salvation and all our 
desire.' 

A sermon I was reading suggested to me that God 
Himself, has in many ways shown the importance of His 
gift, by representing it beforehand in types and shadows 
— preached it by prophets and apostles — announced it 
by angels — proclaimed it by His own voice from heaven. 
What more could He have done ? Yet two thoughts 
more please me — the holy Church throughout the world 
feel its importance and exult in its preciousness. We 



LETTERS BEFORE MARRIAGE. 35 

shall join with them to-morrow in giving thanks and 
'glory to God in the highest' for this His good Will 
towards us — while we may look forward to joining angels 
above (for whom He was not slain), but who yet praise 
Him who ' loved us and gave Himself for us.' 

I hope your good friends are with you. I am sure 
you will have Christmas happiness if they are, for He 
who made Himself ' one with us ' will be in the midst of 
you. ... E. P. H. 

'ipth December 1855. 

It is the eve of the last Sunday in the year — a solemn 
time, is it not ? Has it not a voice of warning of our 
last Sunday of all, and our last account, as well as a voice 
to recall the deeds of the one just closing? It reminds 
me of Sabbath sins — surely the worst of all sins. ' If 
Thou, Lord, shouldest be extreme to mark iniquity, how 
should /stand?' 

I am accustomed to spend the two closing hours of 
the year in self-examination and prayer, and now never 
without a vivid recollection of my dear mamma on her 
last old year's night. ' What thou knowest not now 
thou shalt know hereafter.' It is good for us to be 
humbled by disappointment sometimes in our imperfect 
endeavours — but look up, ' be not weary,' at least refresh 
yourself with the thought that ' the counsel of the Lord 
standeth sure.' He will surely bring to pass the good 
counsel of His Will for us. His Word shall accomplish 
that which He pleases. ... E. P. H. 

January 1856. 

Once again my fingers would give wings to a few words 

to you. Thank you for dear 's notes : they remind 

me of the burden of dear papa's sermon — ' God is with 



36 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 



thee/ — the pillar of the Christian's confidence in the 
unforeseen events of the New Year. How cheering to 
find the first Sunday of the year pointing us to the true 
Light ! Oh, how we need it ! It has been ' the day 
star ' to lead us out of darkness ; but /, at least, need it 
to arise with more healing in its beams, for dark films 
of ignorance and unbelief are around me ; and then, in 
looking forward through the mists of the unknown year, 
though hope would foresee all mists disappearing in 
bright sunshine, I know not ' how it will go with me ' — 
how fearfully then should I walk if it were not promised 
— ' they shall walk in the light of Thy countenance ; ! 
and we are commanded to i walk in the light.' Then may 
that Sun shine more and more perfect day into our souls, 
and guide our feet in the way of peace — this is all the 
light and happiness that w r e care for. ... E. P. H. 

I have such increased need of prayer, with such new 
prospects and duties before me ; in all of them my 
desire is to glorify God ; to meet them / have nothing 
but utter weakness ; help me then to remember to seek 
for and lean upon Him from whom alone cometh help. 
How I wished you were at my side yesterday while 
listening to dear papa's beautiful and striking sermon ! 
It was very specially suitable to us in starting anew on 
life's journey, — it was so full that I must reserve descrip- 
tion till we meet, and only give the text — i Sam. x. 7. 
What can you make of it ? 

It is nearly noon, so I am going to our Father's 
footstool to ask Him to meet and bless us both. I 
need so much grace now to prepare me for all God is 
preparing for me, and only dread becoming forgetful 
of my constant, momentary need of teaching and 
strength. ... E. P. Havergal. 



MARRIAGE. 37 



As in February our home snowdrop came, 
so in February was she transplanted to a new 
and happy home in Ireland. Her dear 
father's ' Bridal Thoughts' ('Life Echoes') 
fitly express the bridegroom's welcome to his 
daughter on her wedding day, February 5, 
1856. 

' Rise up, my love, and come away ! 
It is, it is thy bridal day : 

God's watchers bright 

Await the sight, 
And joy to chant their sweetest lay. 

1 'Tis God who hath prepared thy way 
To reach this blest and blessing day; 
,r Twas He who trained 
When most He pained, 
He meant to chase thy tears away. 

' Then rise, my fair one, come away 
To a home of love by night and day ■ 
Peace and prayer 
Await thee there, 
And praise shall tune thy song alway ! ' 

It was a spring-like day with pleasant 
sunshine. St. Nicholas Church was full of 
friends, both rich and poor, the benedictions 
and salutations of the almshouse women 
culminating at the church porch with — ' Bless 
you, sir ; you've picked the right one ! ' 



38 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

Her father had prepared a musical surprise 
for his daughter at the breakfast, handing 
her these verses printed on bridal paper ; 
and then his voice, with brother Frank and 
sister Frances, led the assembled guests in 
singing this — 

'Nuptial Grace. 

< G. $. and E. P. H. 

' O Thou whose presence beautified 
Poor Cana's nuptial board, 
By Thee let ours be sanctified, 
And Thou shalt be adored. 

' Thyself to us, ourselves to Thee, 

In mystic union join ; 
And grant us greater things to see 
Than water turned to wine. 

i Thy glory show, our faith make strong, 

Like rivers be our peace ; 
And seat us where Thy Marriage Song 
Shall never, never cease. 

' To Him who wove the marriage tie 
In Eden's thornless bower, 
To Him, the Christ of God most High, 
Be glory, praise, and power ! ' 

— Rev. W. H. Havergal. 

Before our travellers left, a chapter was 
read from the Holy Bible, with a forcible ex- 



MARRIAGE AND A HOME IN IRELAND. 39 

position by the Rev. Charles Bradley, Vicar 
of St. James's, Clapham, and prayer by our 
dear father, that they who were indeed heirs 
together of the grace of life might rejoice in 
the fulness of His blessing here, and here- 
after share the fulness of joy in His presence. 
We need not give many details of her 
home-life in Ireland. After only a few weeks' 
residence, the rector, Rev. R. Pakenham, 
observed to her husband, * If there is one 
unselfish woman in the world, it's Mrs. Shaw.' 
To her husband she was ever a ' priceless 
treasure/ and to his two elder children both 
cherishing and wise. How prayerfully she 
watched over them we gather from the frag- 
ment which follows ; and when her own four 
children came, they formed a sixfold cable of 
happy and united entwining of love. 

The storms are lulled, new scenes appear, 
All passing fair, and sunbeams cheer, 

And radiate all around. 
My Shepherd's love is now my theme, 
Folded beside the o'erflowing stream 

Whence life and grace abound ; 
'Mid pastures pleasant, green and fair, 
For me Thy living food prepare 

Like tender, budding grass. 



40 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

Not lonely still, as once of old, 
Sweet converse now, I oft can hold 

Beside my ' Shepherd's tent.' 
And while we wait to hear His voice, 
May we with thankful hearts rejoice, 

And praise His love divine. 

Nor is this all, — two precious lambs 
As pledges of His love He gave, 

Whom I for Him should tend — 
And yet again, His bounteous hand 
Bestows a still more tender lamb, 
To prove His love again. 

O Israel's Shepherd ! be their God, 
And through their hearts, oh shed abroad 

The riches of Thy love. 
And grant the elder ones 1 to grow 
In holy fear and simple faith, 

Like mother safe above. 

And still, O Lord, Thy grace employ, 
That they may lead with sacred joy 

Their sister-lamb to Thee : 
That they a threefold cord may be, 
A holy, happy trinity, 

United in Thy love. 

-E. P. S., 1 8 S 7. 

When visiting at Celbridge Lodge, I was 
touched to see the warm love gushing up 
from many an Irish heart for these Protestant 
friends, who showed their love by their works. 

1 J. H. S. and A. M. S. 



IRISH LOVE. 41 



I took notes of one literal outpour from a 
Roman Catholic which represents many more. 

' Yours can't be a very bad religion if it makes such 
men as Mr. Shaw, for shure and isn't it to his dure we 
fly when we're sick or sore in want or distress, isn't his 
blankets that warm us the length of the long cowld 
winter, and isn't his hand that's ever stretched with the 
kindness to us ! Didn't he and Master John face the 
cholera, the crathur's ! and run with the hot bottles and 
the powders and the red flannel everywhere there was 
a poor sowl sick or sufferin'. Shure the ra-al love of 
God must be blazin' up in his heart, or he'd never feel 
for the poor as he does. And it's what I often think 
in myself that heaven will be a quare place intirely if he 
warn't there ! And the good lady herself, Mrs. Shaw I 
mane, shure a more tinderer, kinder crathur you couldn't 
find in the walls of the world. Let a poor body go to 
her dure when they may, isn't she always ready to see 
them and spake to them — she doesn't send the cowld 
message by the mouth of a servant ; no, she comes to 
you her own self (ah, it's asy seen the ra-al true blood of 
a lady flows in her veins !) and she axes you so kindlike 
to step into the beautiful, illigant hall and the windy that 
would dazzle your eyes to look at. And thin she'd 
listen so quiet and patient-like to all our troubles an' 
trials, an' spake feelin' words about the holy Saviour of 
the world, that the sound of her sweet voice, savin' it 
so tinder, would bring the comfort into your breast. 
And she wouldn't stop at the good words either, for 
she'd have a kind feel for your unfortunate body as well 
as your sowl, and her hand would be stretched out with 
the can of sweet milk and the arrowroot and the beautiful 
fine broth that you might carry home in the tail of your 



42 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 



cloak without spillin' a drap of it, it would be so darlint 
thick ! Ah ! many an' many's the time the heart might 
drap out of our bodies wi'd want an' weakness if it warn't 
for her goodness to us. May it all meet her at the gate 
of glory, an' may the blessin' an' benediction of our 
heavenly Father rest about her and Mr. Shaw here an' 
hereafter. It's a sore day for Celbridge Mr. and Mrs. 
Shaw laving us warey an' lone.' 

Turning from cabins to palaces, from 
peasants to Bishops and Queen's Counsel, 
we give this tribute of esteem from her Irish 
friends after she had passed away. 

To her Husband^ G. S. 

' The Palace, Kilkenny, 
' 1st /anuary 1887. 

6 My very dear Friend and Brother, — It is a, sad 
New- Year's day to you, and yet I cannot refrain (even 
at the risk of intruding upon the sacredness of your 
grief) from writing a few lines to express our joint and 
sincere sympathy with you and yours in this deep sorrow 
which has fallen so suddenly upon you. I know full 
well, from my own experience, how weak and poor all 
human words of comfort are at such a time, but I know 
how the one and only Comforter can sustain with His 
own presence in such an hour. May He be very near 
to fill, as He alone can do, the blank that is left in your 
heart and home. 

' I recall her Christian grace and winning character, all 
her gentleness and faith in Christ, all her love to God's 
people, and I bless God for the remembrance. It will 
ever be sweet and instructive and helpful to the many 



TRIBUTE OF ESTEEM. 43 

who knew and valued her — for " she being dead yet 
speaketh " — and all she was, was by the grace of God, 
which sanctified and ennobled all in her that was " lovely 
and of good report." 

1 We remember you in our prayers, and bear you on our 
hearts. — Yours in best of bonds, Wm. P. Ossory.' 



' The Palace, Waterford, 
\oth January 1887. 

' My dear Mr. Shaw, — When I saw mentioned the 
great sorrow which had fallen upon your house, I felt 
deep sympathy for you ; and now that you are so kind as 
to have a memorial card sent to me, I know that you 
will not feel it amiss that I should express that sympathy. 
Yet surely thanksgiving is to be mingled with it, for you 
are not mourning under the hand of an unknown God, 
but you know and believe His love to you in the midst 
of all this. Neither are you sorrowing for her who sleeps 
in Jesus, as one without hope. Blessed be the Lord for 
His goodness. She did her work as a wife and mother, 
and saw its fruits in her children, and now she rests from 
her labours, until she meets you and them in the presence 
of the Lord at His coming ; and this does not shut out 
her present conscious happiness " with the Lord," as He 
beautifully says of those who died hundreds of years 
before, "all live unto Him.' 

6 1 hope that my dear godson Alfred goes on happily 
in his ministry. He kindly wrote to me about the time 
of his ordination ; his brother W. is also, I think, in 
the ministry. Here is blessed fruit of her training and 
example, which the Lord has crowned with the power of 
His Spirit. Do not take the trouble of writing to me, 
but believe me always, your very sincere friend, 

1 M. F. Cashel.' 



44 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 



6 Dublin, 30M December 1886. 

' My dear Mr. Shaw, — It was with the deepest sym- 
pathy for you all in your loss that I read of your bereave- 
ment in to-day's paper. What a terrible blank her loss 
must be to you all ! and to come so suddenly, as the 
paper says it was ; and yet what a happy way for her to 
go to her loved and loving Lord ! Truly you sorrow 
not as those that are without hope when you grieve for 
the loss of one so kind and gentle, so thoughtful for all, 
so unselfish and so good. Oh, how many will miss her ! 
I know I feel that I have lost one of the friends on earth 
who are so few, those that one can rest in perfect con- 
fidence that their friendship is real and genuine; but 
what is the loss to you all ! May our Father enable 
you to look more on the gain to her, as she rests in the 
light and sunshine in the presence of the King, having 
heard the sweet " Well done, good and faithful servant." 
After all her kindness to me, and yours — I am sure you 
will not think this letter an intrusion, but will accept my 
real sympathy, and believe me, yours ever sincerely, 

1 Thos. P. Law.' 



CHAPTER V. 

RETURN TO ENGLAND NEW HOME AT 

WINTERDYNE. 

iqth December 1866. 

OUR next outline brings us to an English 
railway station, Stourport, and two 
figures pacing the platform expecting the 
train with travellers from Ireland. Four 
little faces recognise dear aunt Fanny and 
cousin Connie. But all her welcomes to 
England are quenched by their fervent and 
faithful adhesion to old Ireland — W. ex- 
claiming, ' We won't be John Bulls or little 
calves ; we will be Paddies and pigs ! ' As 
the train moves on to Malvern, aunt F. 
throws into the carriage her * Welcome to 
Winterdyne/ and the verses are eagerly 
discussed. Poetry is not always convincing, 

and for them the memory of their sweet 

45 



46 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

Celbridge home and their own clear, shining 
Liffey, could not be compared to unknown 
Winterdyne and 'silvery Severn/ especially 
as on that wintry day the river certainly 
looked muddy. After-thoughts are sometimes 
best ! and aunt F/s verses were found to 
be true. 

'Welcome to Winterdyne. 

' Francie and Willie, welcome to you ! 
Alfred and Alice, welcome too ! 
To an English home and English love, 
Welcome each little Irish dove ! 
Never again we hope to be 
Kept apart by an angry sea ; 
A thousand welcomes, O darlings mine, 
When we see you at Winterdyne. 

c Welcome all to a warm new nest, 
Just the place for our doves to rest ; 
Through the oaks and beeches looking down 
On the winding valley and quaint old town, 
Where ivy green on the red rock grows, 
And silvery Severn swiftly flows, 
With an extra sparkle and glitter and shine, 
Under the woods of Winterdyne. 

1 On a quiet evening in lovely spring, 
In the tall old elms the nightingales sing ; 
Under the forest, in twilight grey, 
I have heard them more than a mile aw T ay ; 



RETURN TO ENGLAND. 47 

Sweeter and louder and far more dear 
Than any thrush you ever did hear ; 
Perhaps when the evenings grow long and fine 
They will sing to you in Winterdyne. 

1 Little to sadden, and nothing to fear ; 
Priest and Fenian never come here : 
Only the sound of the Protestant bells 
Up from the valley pleasantly swells, 
And a beautiful arch to church is made, 
Under the sycamore avenue's shade ; 
You pass where the arching boughs entwine 
Out of the gates of Winterdyne. 

' Welcome to merry old England ! And yet 
We know that old Ireland you will not forget ; 
Many a thought and prayer will fly 
Over the mountains of Wales so high ; 
Over the forest and over the sea, 
To the home which no longer yours must be. 
But farewells are over, O darlings mine, 
Now it is Welcome to Winterdyne ! ' 

— Frances Ridley Havergal. 



To M. V. G. H. 

Osborne House, Great Malvern, 
16th Deceiiiber 1866. 

I feel it is but right to thank and greet such a father 
on reaching again my fatherland. Tell him Giles has 
just said, ' I am sure there is not one happier this 
morning, at the thought of your being in England, than 
your father ; ' it is indeed a large measure of the present 
sweetness of my cup to be nearer him. So glad to find 



48 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

from your kind greeting this morning that he is so well. 
What blessings are included to me in such a father ! 

Tell him the ' good management ' of my dear husband 
succeeded well, for when I and the children arrived at 
Malvern four hours after him, he was waiting at the 
station with cabs to bring us to Osborne House, where I 
found fires blazing, and the table laid for dinner, so 
comfortable and cheerful ! I knew he would do it with 
less fatigue, if without ' incumbrance,' and I trusted, too, 
that the Angel would go before him, so I had no anxiety. 
I wish I could express how great I feel the mercies to 
have been that have thus * led us forth in peace,' instead 
of being driven out from our Irish home by sickness, 
peril, or any of the thousand things which might have 
been. D. V., we go to see Winterdyne to-morrow, sleep 
at Oakhampton, and again to W. Tuesday, to take 
measures, etc. Mr. Crane kindly met Giles at Stourport, 
to say we can enter on possession at once. How plain 
and easy our path ! 

. . . Your loving sister, E. P. S. 

This passing reference to her sister F. may 
be of interest. 

To M. V. G. H. 

. . . Dear Fanny has been making us all so bright 
and happy, and is so missed. Miss Edwards went 
violently in love with her, although she did not expect to 
like her. And then, as she has been such a blessing to 
Annie — she also is deeply attached to her. I am glad 
to find she is not spoiled by becoming an authoress, — for 
certainly it requires much grace to stand all that is said 
and read about her poems. I like to see her so unaffected 



HOME- LIFE AT WINTERDYNE. 49 

as not to disguise the pleasure and thankfulness that it 
is natural to feel at many of the remarks. I wish we 
could have been more quiet for her, but could not avoid 
being rather lively lately, and every one clings to her for 
sympathy and advice. She is to stay with Mr. and Mrs. 
Bullock to-morrow, and then goes to brother Frank at 
Hereford. 

We so enjoyed Mr. H.'s visit ; he was so thankful to 
find the change that had taken place in A., and said he 
could never forget his Sunday here. It is the greatest 
honour I wish for our house, that it may be said, ' this 
and that one was born there.' 

. . . Your loving sister, Ellen. 

Only a faint outline can be traced of twenty 
years' home-life at Winterdyne, but extracts 
from letters will supply some details. It was 
a great pleasure to Mrs. Shaw to be within 
a drive of her birthplace, Astley Rectory, and 
her sisters home at Oakhampton in the same 
parish. The hospitalities of Winterdyne 
were widely extended, and many friends 
shared the excursions to the surrounding hills 
and valleys. 

Throughout the summer months, frequent 
parties of excursionists were admitted to the 
grounds — sometimes they came with banners 
and music to the hall door, and were courte- 
ously welcomed. Often the evening rendez- 

D 



50 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

vous would be around the ancient cedar tree, 
and holy song and grateful speeches concluded 
a day of which some poor guest said, i It's 
just like being in heaven. 7 

During the gale of October 14, 1881, this 
magnificent cedar suddenly fell ; Mrs. Shaw 
heard the falling crash, and as she saw it 
lying uprooted and its massive branches 
prostrate — one thought filled her mind, ' Thou 
remainest.' Hence these lines : — 



' They shall Perish ■ but Thou Remainest, 



O cedar tree of Winterdyne, 
The shading guardian of our peaceful home, 
How much we all loved thee ! 
Thy boughs in summer seemed to cool the air 
For those who sat beneath. In wintry frpst and snow 
A hoary sire thou seem'dst. In stormy winds 
We loved to see how bravely thou didst stand, 
Nor thought that thou couldst fall. 

O cedar tree of Winterdyne, 
How many a tale thou could'st have told 
Of festive pleasant times — 
But pass we by the gathering throngs 
From far and near with gladsome songs, 
The pattering feet with music sweet 
And banners bright, and great delight 

That thou didst look upon.— 



THE CEDAR TREE. 



5i 



One 1 honoured thee when o'er her thou didst wave 

Thine ancient branches. There she oft did sit 

Whose presence was as sunshine, gladdening all 

She looked upon. She was God's messenger, — 

Carolling glad truths like blythsome bird, 

Or speaking words in season, softly, lovingly, 

And telling forth the honour of her King. — 

But her work is done ! she has passed away. 

And thou hast fallen ! both leaving us the record sure 

Of thy Creator LORD, — that He remains. 

— E. P. S. 
1 F. R. H. 



Mr. Shaw well remembers the following 
incident. It was Sunday afternoon, July 16, 
1876, when a terrific thunderstorm with vivid 
lightning had just swept over Winterdyne. 
He was standing in the dining-room when 
his wife came in, and instead of referring to 
the thunder, which usually much affected her, 
she handed him a hymn just written, * I love, 
I love my Master.' She explained that just 
before her sister Frances had left for Switzer- 
land, she had been teaching her class about 
the Hebrew servant's choice, in Exodus xxi. ; 
and she suggested that Frances should write a 
hymn with reference to this, and also arranged 
that at three o'clock on that afternoon she 
would pray for her help and guidance at 



52 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

' Fins Haut/ But while Ellen was thinking 
how F. would arrange her hymn, these lines 
were suggested amid the crashing storm. 
The simultaneous verses of both sisters are 
now given : — 

' I Love My Master.' 

Exod. xxi. 5. 

I love, I love my Master, 

I will not go out free ! 
He loves me, O so lovingly, 

He is so good to me ! 

I love, I love my Master, 

He shed His blood for me, 
To ransom me from Satan's power, 

From sin's hard slavery. 

I love, I love my Master, 

O how He worked for me ! 
He worked out God's salvation, 

So great, so full, so free. 

My Master, O my Master, 

If I may work for Thee, 
And tell out Thy salvation, 

How happy shall I be ! 

I know not, but my Master 

Will teach me what to do ; 
Prepare the ground, point out the way, 

And work within me too. 



<Y LOVE MY MASTERS 53 



4 Take up the cross/ He bids me, 

And this for me He bare ; 
And while I wear His easy yoke, 

He meekly takes a share. 

I cannot leave my Master, 

His love has pierced my heart ; 

He binds me to Himself with love, 
He will not let me part. 

I love, I love my Master, 

To Him alone I cling, 
For there is none like Jesus, 

My Saviour, Friend, and King. 

I love, I love my Master, 

I will not go out free ! 
He says, His saints shall serve Him, 

And that my heaven shall be. 

— Ellen P. Shaw. 

WlNTERDYNE, l6thjuly 1 876. 

' My Master.' 
Exod. xxi. 5, 6. 

' I love, I love my Master, 
I will not go out free ; 
For He is my Redeemer, 
He paid the price for me. 

' I would not leave His service, 

It is so sweet and blest ; 

And in the weariest moments 

He gives the truest rest. 



54 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

6 1 would not halve my service, 
His only it must be, — 
His only, who so loved me 
And gave Himself for me. 

1 My Master shed His life-blood 
My vassal life to win, 
And save me from the bondage 
Of tyrant self and sin. 

' He chose me for his service, 
And gave me power to choose 
That blessed " perfect freedom," 
Which I shall never lose. 

' For He hath met my longing 
With word of golden tone, 
That I shall serve for ever 
Himself, Himself alone. 

' " Shall serve Him " hour by hour, 
For He will show me how ; 
My Master is fulfilling 
His promise even now ! 

1 " Shall serve Him," and " for ever ; " 

A hope most sure, most fair ! 
The perfect love outpouring 
In perfect service there ! ' 

— F. R. Havergal. 

('Loyal Responses. 1 ) 
Fins Haut, i6thjuly 1876. 



A PLEASANT PRESENTATION. 55 



Winterdyne, 27M February 1882. 

Dear faithful Mary, — You never forget or neglect 
our birthdays. Thank you so much for another pretty 
memento of the 19th, and also for a beautiful New Year 
card, which I am sorry to have kept unacknowledged to 
this day. 

Most truly can I say of your birthday text that ' His 
kindness ' has not departed from me, but has been ' ever 
more and more toward us. 5 And you too, I am thankful 
to know, can say the same. How happy is the assurance 
that this kindness is not only past and present, but ' ever- 
lasting.' We have had such precious tokens of it in our 
family last year, and in Mr. Shaw's improved health and 
strength enabling him to abound in the work of the 
Lord, and made a blessing to many sufferers. One said 
to me lately, c He is the servant of the Lord ; how good 
He is to send him to me, to teach me how to trust in 
Him!' 

We had such a pleasant surprise last Tuesday evening. 
When Mr. Shaw had finished his address in Park Lane 
school (on Abraham's trial of faith and substitution, as 
taught in Gen. xxii.), the church clerk (a bright and 
active helper in good works) rose and asked those 
present (the room full) to sit down, as he, George Clarke, 
was deputed to say that it had long been the wish of 
those who were there, and at Mr. Shaw's Bible classes 
at Winterdyne, to make some token of gratitude, etc., 
for his teaching And then Thomas Hunt, a shoe- 
maker, member of his class, walked up the room and 
presented a beautiful inkstand (inlaid Coromandel wood) 
with silver inscription plate, and an address signed by 
seventy -four persons, with a large drawer for holding 
the notes he makes for his meetings ; and said they all 
felt so much benefit from his teaching, that it was a real 



56 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

pleasure to express some gratitude. I enclose a copy 
of a note from the same man, which shows the reality of 
grace in him. But I must amuse you with a sequel. 
Miss Havergal, seated at the harmonium, rose, saying, 
( As you are giving Mr. Shaw so much pleasure, I must 
give you a little. You chose to-day, Shrove Tuesday, 
for this presentation most fortunately, for I am sure you 
will like to know that it was on a Shrove Tuesday that 
Mr. Shaw married my sister, Ellen Havergal (waving her 
hand toward me), and if he had not married her, he 
might never have been here ! ' You may fancy how 
very effective this little speech was ! The warm, grateful 
feeling of all was so pleasant. 

I am sorry to say my sister is not in as good health as 
we could wish ; and letters still come, because she is so 
kind ! 

So glad to know you have such bountiful enjoyments. 
The Lord be with you in them all. — Affectionately 
yours, Ellen Shaw. 

It may seem strange so little reference is 
made to her dear sister F. R. H., but such ex- 
tracts have already appeared in her Memoirs 
and * Miscellaneous Letters/ and therefore 
only this comforting thought is given. 

To M. V. G. H. 

San down, 2nd June 1884. 

Many will be thinking and praying for you to-morrow, 
dear sister Maria. May the Comforter draw near to 
hush and calm and cheer you. I have just been putting 
together 'as He is, so are we,' with, 'this same Jesus 



BIBLE CLASSES, 57 

shall so come in like manner ! ' And if it was ' splendid ' 
to Frances to go, it will be splendid too for her to return, 
and splendid for us to meet them, whether on earth or 
in air. 

Alfred preached such a good, full sermon last night, 
on ' He shall baptize . . . with fire,' explaining the Old 
and New Testament emblems of the Holy Spirit : quite 
a Bible study, and all so well put. He goes to-morrow 
to Farnham, preparatory to ordination as priest. — Your 
affectionate sister, Ellen. 

'Rejoicing in hope.' 

The life-lines of any of God's servants 
cannot be completed by an earthly hand, 
for the countless and varied details of service 
for God are known only to Him, but the 
Masters hand will surely complete in bright- 
ness the minutest tracery. In January 1872 
Mrs. Shaw began a Sunday morning Bible 
class for youths, separating them from the 
large class of senior men, who had for some 
time previously assembled in the dining- 
room at Winterdyne for Mr. Shaw's Bible 
instruction. Her class so increased that it 
was necessary to form a third class in an 
adjoining room. 

The register books of attendance for 
fourteen years, and a very wealth of care- 
fully prepared lessons during that long 



58 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

period, are all neatly kept. There are notes 
critical and practical on Genesis, Exodus, 
Leviticus, Numbers, Joshua, Samuel, and 
Kings, also from the Book of Proverbs, with 
many New Testament chapters and other 
lessons suitable to our Church festivals. A 
few specimens of these follow, but they can- 
not be written out as orally given, so the 
pith and point of searching appeal must pass 
unrecorded. Their teachers value for souls 
was seen in the light of eternity, and her 
intense anxiety for her class went far beyond 
regular attendance and moral behaviour ; 
she longed for their conversion and saving 
acceptance of Christ's work for them, and 
that hidden union and life in Christ that 
brings forth holy living and walking with 
Him. She was ever their friend as well as 
teacher, entering into their individual trials 
and difficulties, and furnishing them with 
replies and arguments against scoffers or 
freethinkers. 

In illness Mrs. Shaw visited and comforted 
them. Only one slight record has been kept 
of many such visits ; often excusing herself 
from drives and excursions that she might 



GENTLE MINISTRIES. 59 



get to their bedsides — and other cottage 
visits. 

July 18. — Read Isa. xliii. 1-3 to Henry J. He 
had repeatedly said he knew he was redeemed and 
forgiven, and now I asked him if he had believed this 
long ago ? H. ' It is about two years, since I was taken 
ill, the work began in me. But it was the teaching in 
your class, and especially one Sunday when you brought 
a stranger to speak to us, and I saw then what believing 
meant/ ' What is it you believe, Henry ? ' ' That 
Jesus died for me, and that He has forgiven my sins.' 
Teacher. 'Then you have peace, Henry; for, therefore 
being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through 
our Lord Jesus Christ — the burden all gone — sin put 
away — nothing between you and God.' H. ' Yes, that's 
it — I know it, and I want the class to know it. I have 
tried to speak of Jesus to others, but some only 
laughed/ 

August 23. — I found Henry very suffering and breath- 
less. It soothed him speaking of the Good Shepherd 
loving and caring for His sheep, and therefore knowing 
all his sufferings, and that He was watching and 
tending him. Then I spoke of the Great Shepherd able 
to carry him all the rough way ; and then of the Chief 
Shepherd giving crowns of glory, and that even now 
His hand held the crown out to him in the weary 
road, and soon, soon he would have the joy of seeing 
Jesus. 

Another day I asked him what text he was leaning 
on? H. '"My peace I give unto you;" I have it, 
thank the Lord.' Teacher. ' Yes, He is our peace, and 
Christ made peace for us by the blood of His cross.' 
H. ' Yes, that's it, that's it/ — and together they praised 



6o OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

God — (and now again, before the throne, they are 
together saying Alleluia !) 

In addition to this Sunday class, Mrs. 
Shaw had week-day meetings for teetotalism. 
She herself was a faithful member, and one 
note-book is filled with the subject in all its 
bearings. In the long light evenings, pleasant 
meetings in the summer-house and addresses 
from strangers helped to rivet the pledge 
of the abstainers, and she always cordially 
joined in the rectors Church of England 
Temperance movements. 

When members of her class left for 
distant towns, magazines and letters followed 
them. Such patient seed -sowing was ever 
watered with prayer ; and only last autumn, 
on the Clent hills, she spoke tearfully of her 
unfulfilled desires for her class, and then and 
there, hidden by the clumps of gorse and 
heather, we knelt and commended each 
member to the Great Teacher, God's holy 
Spirit, that He would quicken and awaken 
them with spiritual life and power. (Very 
true and deep affection now enshrines her 
memory, and among the many funeral 
wreaths, her class sent a beautiful crown 



Y. W. C. A. CLASSES. 61 

of camellias and ferns — 'For our own dear 
Teacher.') 

In F. R. H.'s Bible, her sister Ellens 
name appears in 1867 as having joined the 
Young Women's Christian Association about 
the same time as herself. Mrs. Shaw was 
secretary for the Bewdley branch, and con- 
ducted the monthly meeting of the senior 
ladies. Her expository thoughts were deeply 
valued, and we have found many books full 
of her carefully written notes. Her prayers, 
even more than her teachings, riveted 
all who heard them ; in choicest language 
they were the holy, happy communings of 
one who realized a very near approach to the 
Holiest — prayers that wafted you into the 
inner sanctuary, making us ashamed of our 
own formality and unreality. 

Occasionally addresses and tea-meetings 
were arranged for the junior members. 
(Beautiful memorial wreaths were sent from 
the ladies and the junior members.) 

Mrs. Shaw also conducted a Young 
Women's Christian Association class in her 
servants' hall. We quote the words of one 
member, Fanny Holloway. 



62 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

' Mrs. Shaw was a splendid teacher ; you could take 
in everything she taught ; she explained all about the 
Tabernacle so nicely. I feel very sad that all her 
teachings are done and past for us. But if I learnt 
anything it was to pray. Mrs. Shaw took everything 
straight to the Lord, and so, of course, it all came right. 
If anything went wrong among us, she would pray over 
it with us. To myself she was a dear friend and adviser, 
as well as mistress, and in all my eighteen years' service 
here, I never remember one cross or hasty word to any 
of the servants. The Lord Jesus must have been pleased 
with her gentleness ; He knew it all.' 

From childhood, Mrs. Shaw's warmest 
sympathy and support was given to the 
Church Missionary Society, though other 
societies found place in the longing for Christ's 
name and kingdom to be exalted. For her 
dear missionary niece Amy (Mrs. A. D. 
Shaw), in East Africa, she diligently worked, 
sending garments suitable for the women and 
school children. But it was in connection 
with the Church of England Zenana Society 
that Mrs. Shaw superintended monthly 
working parties at Winterdyne. Everything 
was neatly prepared, and she gave hours and 
hours in cutting out material, etc. As needle- 
work was not unnoticed in the Tabernacle, 
so was her equally loyal offering unto the 



LOVING MISSIONARY WORK. 63 



Lord. Our dear and valued friend Elizabeth 
Clay, whose indomitable perseverance in 
itinerations in the Punjaub Village Mission 
are so well known, was a very special subject 
of interest. And within the last fortnight 
of her life Mrs. Shaw completed many kurtas 
or native garments for Ajnala, and though 
far from well, packed a large parcel for Miss 
Clay, including work contributed by Bewdley 
ladies. 

And in the last week of her life on earth, 
her faithful attendant F. H. remembers that 
when she took her luncheon, her mistress 
bade her sit down and read the C. M. 
Gleaner's account of Bishop Hannington, 
and afterwards she took the book and 
explained many other pictures and passages. 



CHAPTER VI. 

LAST DAYS AND SUDDEN GLORY. 

MR. and MRS. SHAW went to their 
eldest daughters home in Chelten- 
ham, December i, visiting Mrs. Maynard 
and many friends, who remarked her cheerful- 
ness and apparent good health. They much 
enjoyed some special services held in Canon 
Bell's church, and Mrs. Shaw took many 
notes of the sermons by the Rev. Talbot 
Greaves. 

While at Cheltenham she wrote the 
following letter, a true and remarkable 
epitome of the foundation on which her 
faith rested, and her assured and certain 
hope of the eternal life to which she was 

unconsciously hastening : — 

6 4 



THE SAFE PASSPORT. 65 



Cheltenham, $th December 1886. 

I have thought many times of what you said about 
Psa. xv., and it was brought back to my mind in this 
morning's service by a parallel in Psa. xxiv. 4, and 
reminds me how beautifully Scripture throws light on 
Scripture. I find little or no comfort in this Psalm alone, 
for whatever the general tenor of my life, how could I 
say that I have always acted up to this standard? I 
may think much of some occasions of upright walking 
or truthful speaking, but did my God see no sin, or self, 
no earthly motive mixing with the seeming good ? Ah 
no ! His holy eyes saw it was all sin-stained and 
imperfect, and all my omissions besides. Conscience 
tells me there is no hope for me to stand on that Holy 
Hill for my own doings, and St. Paul tells me ' by the 
deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified in His sight.' 
So far then this Psalm seems rather to mar my comfort 
than make it; but when I look at it in the light of 
Rev. vii., and I see how that innumerable multitude 
stands before the throne, I take comfort in seeing that 
I can claim admission with them, for I have the same 
right, the same passport — 'the Blood of the Lamb! 7 
Washed in that all-atoning Blood from omissions, com- 
missions, and failures, and clothed in His perfect right- 
eousness instead of my own, I hope and expect to 'abide 
in that Holy Hill.' 

I wonder if you take this really comfortable view ! 
One is left so without fear when we know that the Lord 
Jesus is our Substitute and Sin-bearer, taking all our sins 
and delinquencies, and giving us Himself and all His 
righteousness — taking the place of me the sinner, and 
letting me stand ' accepted in Him the Beloved/ ' blame- 

E 



66 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

less and faultless before His Father's throne.' And 
meanwhile I love, and I need to look constantly at the 
great purchase-price of all this, ' the precious Blood of 
Christ.' As my dear sister wrote, ' I cannot do without 
the precious Blood the first thing in the morning as well 
as the last thing at night.' All my safety and peace 
spring from it. Christ ' made peace for me by the Blood 
of His cross/ and ' washes me from my sins in His ow r n 
Blood,' and through it 'purges me from dead works to 
serve the living God,' I am i made nigh,' and ' have 
boldness to enter into the holiest by the Blood of Jesus.' 
Do I want victory ? it must be ' through the Blood of the 
Lamb;' if I want to be 'perfect in every good work to do 
His will,' it must be 'through the Blood of the ever- 
lasting covenant.' 

And then as the Revised Version gives Rev. xxii. 14, 
£ Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may 
have the right to come to the Tree of Life, and may enter 
by the gates into the city? 

Oh, why do we hear so little of this Precious Blood, 

when so much — nay, all depends upon it ! Dear , 

may you have increasing comfort by ' faith in the Blood 
of Christ,' and so, happy and full assurance of abiding 
for ever on His ' Holy Hill.' 

E. P. S 



December 8,— For a few days after return- 
ing from Cheltenham, Mrs. Shaw kept her 
room with cold and cough. Even then we 
could not but observe how much she thought 
about absent friends. Letters were written, 
and she sent away many copies of Treasure 



'TREASURE TROVE? 67 

Trove. This letter explains her interest in 
the little book : — 



Dear Mrs. Gillman, — I return the MSS. letters of 
my dear sister Frances, which you so kindly lent. It 
has been a great interest to me to retrace many incidents 
in our past lives which they recall, and still more to see 
the holy thoughts and sanctified feelings with which dear 
F. viewed them. Some extracts from these and other 
papers have been selected by my daughter to form a 
tiny book of fragments called Treasure Trove} — With 
Christian regard, sincerely yours, 

E. P. S. 



(How little Ellen thought her own charm- 
ingly written Preface would enhance the 
treasure of her farewell gifts !) 

During these last days, Ellen astonished 
me with her loving anxiety for the souls of 
others, remembering some of whom we had 

not even spoken for years ; e.g. ' All day 

has been on my mind ; how often we are verily 
guilty concerning our brother.' 

The Y. W. C. A. evidently found place 
in her latest thoughts and intentions, as 
exemplified in the following letter : — 



1 Treasure Trove, by F. R. Havergal. Preface by Ellen P. 
Shaw. James Nisbet & Co. 



68 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 



Winterdyne, \Wi December 1886. 

Dear Miss C, — By way of a little recognition of 
your Y. W. C. A. class, I send copies of Christmas 
Cheer and a card for each. Will you kindly give them 
for me for Christmas day ? 

It grieves me not to have done anything for the 
Association for so long — I hoped to have had a tea 
for them at Christmas, but now am unequal to it. May 
the Lord Himself bind their hearts together with the 
cords of His love. Will you tell them I hope they will 
get some real Christmas joy by looking at God's great 
Gift — ' all other gifts in one.' A Divine Gift, a Gift for 
all time and eternity. Oh that they and we may study 
its riches, and so rejoice in Him ! — With kindest wishes 
for yourself and mother, yours sincerely, 

E. P. Shaw. 



To her Sister J. M. C. 

Winterdyne, 2Ij/ December 1886. 

Many, many thanks, dearest Miriam, for your News 
Letter, and kind thoughtfulness and peptone present to 
me, which I will use. I took a little fresh cold going 
down on Sunday, which irritated the air tubes of my 
throat, but it passes, thanks to care and nursing. Maria 
has turned the tables on me wonderfully ; instead of 
anxiously nursing her, as I feared, she waits on me ! and 
is wonderfully active — so brisk in this sharp frost, and 
talks of going on the ice. On Sunday morning she 
taught my class, and in the afternoon went to Ribbesford 
Church as godmother to little Violet Maria Victoria 
Brooke, and afterwards had prayer at our lodge with the 
parents and sponsors. 



CHRISTMAS EVE. 69 

This morning she was off at half-past nine to hear the 
National School children repeat Isa. liii. in return for 
some prize Bibles. ... I had better thank you now for 
the sweet scents you kindly sent for us all; they are. very 
acceptable. Oh to enjoy more the fragrance of that 
Name which is above all others, — that Gift of Gifts, all 
other gifts in one. May it so refresh you, that you may 
have indeed a happy Christmas. — Your affectionate sister, 

Ellen. 

One of the last parcels she packed was to 
her brother Frank, with presents and loving 
wishes written in pencil for all her nephews 
and nieces at Upton Bishop Vicarage. 

During the last few days Mrs. Shaw was 
able to come down - stairs, bringing the 
peculiarly peaceful influence that surrounded 
her — like some deep quiet lake, reflecting the 
golden stillness of the sky. 

December 24. — The morning was occupied 
in packing parcels and especially books and 
rewards for her Sunday morning class. 
Weariness induced her to allow another hand 
to complete her Christmas preparations in 
the afternoon, but she joined us at tea, and 
spoke cheerfully of many passing events. 

For many years Mr. and Mrs. Shaw always 
retired on Friday evenings for intercessory 



7o OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 



prayer for their children, their clergy, and 
the Sunday services and classes ; but seeing 
her weariness, Mr. Shaw went alone. After 
watching the holly and ivy wreathings, the 
time for evening prayers came, when Mrs. 
Shaw left the room — her last words in it 
showing her unselfish consideration for others 
— ' If I go up-stairs, they can sing a hymn.' 
(It had been omitted when she was very 
tired.) Following dear Ellen to say good- 
night, I remarked, ' It will be delightful to 
get rid of this tabernacle with its aches and 
pains ■ — the quiet reply came, ' The pins of 
this earthly tabernacle are easily taken out, 
dear Maria.' 

Later on her daughter Frances went to 
her, who writes : — 

' On Christmas Eve I stayed longer with dear mother 
than usual, and sat down by the fire for a talk. She 
spoke of God's goodness to us all these years, and how 
undeserving we were of it. She quoted, " He drew me 
out of an horrible pit, and set my feet upon a rock," and 
then spoke of Christ's great love in giving Himself for us, 
" such wonderful love ! Oh, what a wonder that Jesus 
loves me ! " 

'Then I read 2 Sam. vii. 21, asking her if she thought 
that verse was applicable to Christmas : " For Thy word's 
sake, and according to Thine own heart, hast Thou done 



THE UNSPEAKABLE GIFT, 7 i 

all these great things, to make Thy servant know them." 
She said she supposed it might be so applied, but she 
had not thought of it before in that connection, but 
that " no doubt it was all according to His heart whose 
thoughts are so different from our own." ' 

Christmas Day. — She had slept fairly well 
and enjoyed an early cup of tea ; but there 
were no home birdies to sing as in former 
years their grandpapa s carol — 

' How grand and how bright 
That wonderful night, 
When angels to Bethlehem came ! ' 

Bagster's Light on the Daily Path always 
lay on the dressing-table, forming their early 
portion, and was again read at the breakfast- 
table. To-day Mr. S. read to her the selec- 
tion for the 'Evening Hour' — 'Thanks be 
to God for His unspeakable gift/ and Mrs. 
Shaw requested this might be read, instead 
of the usual chapter, at family prayers, as 
follows : — 

December 25. — ' Thanks be unto God for His unspeak- 
able gift.' 

'Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 
Serve the Lord with gladness : come before His presence 
with singing. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, 
and into His courts with praise : be thankful unto Him, 



72 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

and bless His name. For unto us a Child is born, unto 
us a Son is given : and the government shall be upon 
His shoulder : and His name shall be called Wonderful, 
Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the 
Prince of Peace.' 

' He spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up 
for us all. Having yet one Son, His well-beloved, He 
sent Him also last unto them.' 

' Oh that men would praise the Lordy^ His goodness, 
and for His wonderful works to the children of men ! 
Bless the Lord, O my soul ; and all that is within me, 
bless His holy name.' 

' My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath 
rejoiced in God my Saviour.' 

Mr. Shaw took up her breakfast, which 
she enjoyed more than usual, and said she 
felt so much better she would rise soon. 
Her faithful maid, Hollo way, remarking on 
the sunshine, Mrs. Shaw replied, ? Yes, and 
how nice to think the Sun of Righteousness 
is shining all over the world — all over the 
world ! ' (a true missionary farewell glance). 
Then some of her presents were taken up, 
encircling her with love. My offering was 
a sofa cushion of our dear fathers and a 
couvrette of sister F.'s ; and as I stood near 
her, she admired my lace, and I told her it 
was our own mothers needlework; thus we 



THE FULNESS OF JOY. 73 



spoke of all the dear ones she was just going 
to join. She looked so happy and even 
merry, that I said I would go to church ; the 
last word that I heard from her gentle voice 
was ' Emmanuel.' 

The parcel post did not arrive till after ten 
o'clock. Mr.' Shaw brought up a packet 
from her daughter-in-law (G. M. S.), and left 
her admiring its contents. Edward H. S.'s 
card told of ' New gleams of the glory that 
waits thee ! ' 

About half-past ten Mr. Shaw returned 
up-stairs, bringing The Fulness of Joy, a 
beautifully-illustrated book of some of her 
sister Fannys hymns, as a present from his 
daughters. 

In one of Mrs. Shaw's first letters to Mr. 
S., she had written, 'If it is pleasant to 
be under the shade of what seems now to 
our blind eyes but as a Branch, what will 
be the fulness of our joy, when we behold 
Him as the Tree of Life in the midst of the 
Paradise of God ? ' and now their hands 
together held this book, thus linking the 
first and last step of their happy pilgrimage 
with The Fulness of Joy. 



74 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

Mr. Shaw then read to her the two first 
hymns, 'Accepted, Perfect, and Complete/ 
and ' Is it for me, dear Saviour ? ' and leaving 
the book in her hand, went to get ready for 
church. 

' Accepted, Perfect, and Complete, 
For God's inheritance made meet, 
How true, how glorious, and how sweet ! 

' In the Beloved — by the King 
Accepted, though not anything 
But forfeit lives had we to bring. 

6 And Perfect in Christ Jesus made, 
On Him our great transgressions laid, 
We in His righteousness arrayed. 

' Complete in Him, our glorious Head, 
With Jesus raised from the dead, 
And by His mighty Spirit led ! 

' O blessed Lord, is this for me ? 
Then let my whole life henceforth be 
One Alleluia song to Thee ! ' 

— F. R. H. 



1 Is it for me, dear Saviour, 
Thy glory and Thy rest ? 
For me, so weak and sinful, 
Oh shall /thus be blessed? 



THE FULNESS OF JOY. 75 

Is it for me to see Thee 

In all Thy glorious grace, 
And gaze in endless rapture 

On Thy beloved Face ? 

11. 

; Is it for me to listen 

To Thy beloved Voice, 
And hear its sweetest music 

Bid even me rejoice? 
Is it for me, Thy welcome, 

Thy gracious " Enter in " ? 
For me, Thy " Come, ye blessed ! " 

For me, so full of sin ? 

in. 

4 O Saviour, precious Saviour, 

My heart is at Thy feet ; 
I bless Thee and I love Thee, 

And Thee I long to meet. 
A thrill of solemn gladness 

Has hushed my very heart, 
To think that I shall really 

Behold Thee as Thou art ; 

iv. 

' Behold Thee in Thy beauty, 

Behold Thee face to face ; 
Behold Thee in Thy glory, 

And reap Thy smile of grace ; 
And be with Thee for ever, 

And never grieve Thee more ! 
Dear Saviour, I must praise Thee, 

And lovingly adore.' — F. R. H. 



76 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 



Happily her daughter F. went again 
into the room before leaving for church, and 
saw her mother looking pale, saying, * Oh, 
this terrible pain in my head ! Give me 
my tonic/ F. went and told her father, who 
immediately came. She said ' tonic,' and 
partly drank it, but was immediately uncon- 
scious. Restoratives and warmth were 
applied, but in a few minutes she ceased to 
breathe, from syncope of the heart. We 
found her Bible beneath her left arm, her 
unfailing pilgrim staff for all the way, and 
we knew her safe passport in life and death 
was the blood of the Lamb. For sud- 
denly, as on the first Christmas morning, 
the glory of the Lord shone round about 
her, and with glad surprise she entered 
into the Fulness of Joy, sharing with 
loved ones gone before, His glory and His 
rest. 

None of us thought how soon or how 
suddenly her remark only the night before 
would be realized — ' The pins of this earthly 
tabernacle are easily taken out/ There was 
no time for any parting testimony, or even a 



THE ASSURED HOPE. 77 

parting prayer ; how precious then to us the 
following unfinished letter, written the day 
before the birth of one of her children, and 
which she gave to her beloved husband 
twenty-seven years ago, as the testimony of 
her assured hope, if ever she should unex- 
pectedly be called hence ! 



Celbridge Lodge, nth May 1859. 

It may be some comfort to you, my precious husband, 
to have a few words on paper which I may not trust my 
lips to say, or have opportunity to express, if I should 
soon be called to go to my Father. 

I need not tell you in whom I have believed, or that 
whenever I may be called, I humbly hope it will be to 
ascend to your Father and my Father, to my God and 
your God, through Him who loved us and gave Himself 
for us. 

I only want to say, that if I am taken and you are left 
for ' yet a little while,' that I go without one restrictive 
wish concerning you or the dear children, nor will I 
make one proposal concerning future arrangements for 
them ; for what might now seem to me best, might in the 
changes of this passing world become in a short time 
either foolish or impossible. Our Father careth for 
them, and will guide and counsel you in their temporal 
well-being, and in training them up for Him. You 
know that has ever been my only condition with Him 
for them, ' Only make them Thy children. 7 

I may be unable to give any parting expression of my 
mind. Long as I have been enabled to set my seal to 



yS OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE, 

i Tim. i. 15 i 1 Ps. ciii. 3, 8-10 ; 2 1 John ii. 1, 2. 3 I can 
only still say of self, unclean, unclean, and Job xlii. 
5, 6. 4 How I have lost time in seeking the renewing 
of the Spirit. . . . (unfinished). E. P. S. 



' I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, 
Blessed are the dead w T hich die in the Lord/ — Rev. 
xiv. 13. 

' Hush ! blessed are the dead 
In Jesus' arms who rest, 
And lean their weary head 
For ever on His breast. 

' O beatific sight ! 

No darkling veil between, 
They see the Light of Light, 
Whom here they loved unseen. 

1 ' This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all accepta- 
tion, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save 
sinners; of whom I am chief.' — 1 Tim. i. 15. 

2 ' Who forgiveth all thine iniquities ; who healeth all 
thy diseases. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow 
to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always 
chide : neither will He keep His anger forever. He hath 
not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us accord- 
ing to our iniquities.' — Ps. ciii. 3, 8-10. 

3 ' My little children, these things write I unto you, that 
ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate 
with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous : and He is 
the propitiation for our sins : and not for ours only, but 
also for the sins ^/"the whole world.' — 1 John ii. 1, 2. 

4 ' I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear : but 
now mine eye seeth Thee. Wherefore I abhor myself 
and repent in dust and ashes.' — Job xlii. 5, 6. 



THE BLESSED DEAD. 79 

1 For them the wild is past 
With all its toil and care ; 
Its withering midnight blast, 
Its fiery noonday glare. 

1 Them the Good Shepherd leads, 

Where storms are never rife, 
In tranquil dewy meads, 
Beside the Fount of Life. 

' Ours only are the tears, 

Who weep around their tomb 
The light of bygone years 

And shadowing years to come. 

' Their voice, their touch, their smile, — 
Those love-springs flowing o'er, — 
Earth for its little while 

Shall never know them more. 

4 O tender hearts and true, 
Our long last vigil kept, 
We weep and mourn for you, 
Nor blame us : Jesus wept. 

' But soon at break of day 
His calm Almighty voice, 
Stronger than death, shall say, 
Awake,— arise, — rej oice/ 

— BlCKERSTETH. 

{Sang in Ribbesford Church, 31st December 1886.) 



8o OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 



In fair and holy memory of 
ELLEN PRESTAGE SHAW, 

the beloved Wife of 

Giles Shaw, Esq., Winterdyne, 

who suddenly fell asleep in Jesus 

on Christmas Morning, 1886. 

Aged 63 years. 



Himself hath done it' — Isa. xxxviii. 15, 



Our dear one is with Jesus now ! 

Seeing Him face to face, 
Gazing upon His own beloved brow, 

Watching His smile of grace ; 
Hearing the Master's voice in all its sweetness, 
Knowing Him now in all His own completeness; 

With Jesus now, with Him for ever ! 

Never to leave Him — grieve Him never ! 
Could God Himself give more ? His will 
Is best though we are weeping still.' 

— Frances R. Havergal. 



' It is the Lord, let Him do what seemeth Him 
£ood.' — 1 Sam. hi. 18. 



'Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our 
sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and 
priests unto God and His Father ; to Him be glory and 
dominion for ever and ever, Amen. ; — Rev. i. 5, 6. 



LOVING SYMPATHY. 



More than two hundred letters of sym- 
pathy reached the sorrowing family at 
Winterdyne. 

1 Vicarage, Rushall, nth January 1887. 

'My dear Mr. Shaw, — Any words of mine, dear 
friend, would fail to express my sympathy with you all 
under this trying mark of the Father's love — and well I 
know the sad bereavement it must be to you more 
especially, but I know also where you can find that 
loving consolation which man can never give, but which 
He — who loves to weep with our suffering humanity — 
always gives to His believing ones. I observe the call 
was sudden, and that the Master made the river-bed 
so dry as she went over — that she knew not it was 
Jordan — suddenly beckoned into the Presence she so 
long had waited for, and on that precious day — above all, 
when the Church on earth loves to commemorate His 
first coming to His people. What a blessed Noel it 
was indeed to her — coming to her, not as the Infant of 
Bethlehem, but as the Royal Messenger, to usher her 
into the many mansions, "arrayed in the raiment of 
needle -work," to present her faultless before the King 
with exceeding joy. No lingering amid the shadows, 
nor waiting in the valley, but hearing, amid the daily 
service she delighted to render to Him and His suffer- 
ing ones, His voice saying, "Rise up, my fair one, and 
come away." Long will her sweet memory, and the 
pleasant days with her at Winterdyne, recur to mind, 
and the blessed influence she shed on all around come 
again and again to our thoughts, reminding us how, 
amid much bodily weakness, she walked with God, and 
was not, because God took her. What a glorious change, 

F 



82 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

as she awaked up in His likeness and was fully satisfied. 
What a joyous reunion with the dear ones, gone before, 
who were waiting her, and how loud and full the anthem 
as she entered the golden street, and saw His face 
and worshipped at His feet, — 

" So would I die, 
Not slain, but caught up as it were 
To meet my Saviour in the air — 

So would I die." 

God be with you, dear friend ; another link unfastened 
here, another rivet to our Eternal Home. It tells us 
more and more, this is not our rest ; it points us upwards, 
onwards, biding us remember our Treasure is above, and 
speaking to us from her earthly resting-place, that like 
her we also, if faithful and true, shall, through His 
perfect righteousness, soon enter within the veil, where 
the shadows flee away and the everlasting morning will 
be our portion and our joy. — Believe me, very sincerely 
yours, F. Gr^me-Littlecot.' 



'Dublin, 30^ December 1886. 

' Dear Mr. Shaw, — I hesitate to write, and yet cannot 
forbear doing so, for my sister and I were fairly stunned 
this morning to read that your beloved saint-like com- 
panion, our most kind friend, has been taken from the 
midst of you all — so loving and beloved, was she, so holy 
in thought, word, and deed. Oh ! she is indeed an 
unutterable loss to her family, and to you more especi- 
ally. The world is all the poorer, now that her gentle 
influence is gone from it, except that it must remain an 
abiding influence in the minds of all who had, like 
ourselves, the privilege of having known her. She was 
ripe for glory, that was my first thought, and a sudden 



LOVING SYMPATHY. 83 

death could have no terrors for one whose thoughts were 
at all times set on Heaven and the Saviour she loved so 
truly. Great is the trial which God has required of 
you; may He give you strength to bear it. I cannot 
think of never seeing her again without blinding tears, 
she was so good, so affectionately helpful to our un- 
worthy selves, so compassionate to all in need, and 
her gentle humility so beautiful. I think it would be 
impossible to imagine a more lovely character. We 
never can forget the happy peaceful days we have spent 
with you all at lovely Winterdyne; and very precious 
is, and will be to the end of one's life, the little book, 
Treasure Trove, which she addressed to us with her own 
dear handwriting little more than a week ago. 

' On what a blessed day she is gone Home. You would 
not wish it to be otherwise, for Death was the new Life 
to her. We do so feel for you, kind friend, in this 
sudden stroke of sorrow. I will not add more, and you 
will please excuse me if these few lines seem like an 
intrusion on your present sorrow. My sister joins with 
me in true and loving sympathy with you all. — Yours 
most sincerely, C. F. C 



LETTERS TO HER HUSBAND 
AND CHILDREN. 



85 



LETTERS TO HER HUSBAND AND 
CHILDREN. 



My Husband. 

Celbridge Lodge, May 1856. 

FULL many a page of life's eventful tale has passed 
Since last a record with my pen I traced, — 
Changes and chances, sufferings and joy, 
Valleys of sorrow — heavy storms, 
When grief, anxiety, and care 
Their waves commingled — 
Anticipation, too, tossed high its spray 
Outstripping far the destined reach of waves 
Restrained within a Father's loving hand. 
Yes, tempests raged, and night at times prevailed ; 
Yet, every wave told but of love's unfathomed sea, 
Toward which my Captain's hand was guiding me. 
Night's darkness only showed how fair 
Thou art, my bright, my ' morning star ' ! 
But now — the tale how changed ! 
No more prevails the tone of sadness, 
But calm delight and thankful gladness ; 
Unwished, unasked, I'm in a peaceful haven — 
Sweet type of my best home in heaven. 



88 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

The tempest oft by its terrific waves 

Casts up some jewel fair from ocean caves : 

My storm's o'erpast ! a jewel, too, is mine ! 

But not from ocean cave, or earth-wrought mine — 

Purchased by Christ from sin's dark land, 

Brought to me by my God's good hand ; 

More precious than earth's brightest gem, 

My prize is one in God's own diadem ! 

— E. P. S. 

Winterdyne, l$th March, 
10.15 A.M. 

Now is not this to your mind, my Giles — writing 
to you the first thing ? — not but what I have had 
bonnet and shawl on before it ! 

... I was struck this morning when reading 
Jer. li. (that wonderful typical part about Baby- 
lon) : ' We would have healed Babylon, but she 
is not healed : forsake her, and let us every one go 
into his own country,' — what a motto for the Irish 
Church Missions ! 

3.40. — So glad to get your note, and to find how 
opportune your visit is after all — exemplifying 
Ps. xxxvii. 23, 'The steps of a good man are 
ordered by the Lord, and He delighteth in his way.' 
Is not the last part of the verse pleasant ? ' He 
delights in his way ' — delights, I suppose, in guiding 
the way of His servants, so that it shall result in 
good, — so it is well to take the way He orders by 
His providence, or i prepares for us to walk in.' 

I do pray you may be a blessing to your brother. 

called and stayed an hour; she seems 

chastened bv her deafness, and we had a nice talk 



LETTERS TO HER HUSBAND. 89 

about the hearing of faith, Prov. xxii. 17, 'Bow 
down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise/ etc. 
Kind love to any enquiring friends, and very 
much to you, my own. — Your loving ELLEN. 

Buxton, 1881. 

Many thanks, my beloved husband, for yours of 
yesterday, received as usual this morning. Notes 
of home-life I might call it; it is so pleasant to 
know what you are all doing. So glad you have 
some idea of coming here, — may God bring it to 
pass, — for it seems so likely to suit and benefit 
you. I am better, thank God, and I trust it will 
do Alice good. The temperature must be much 
lower here than at home. We have taken some 
drives, and sometimes stroll back pleasantly. 

As I knelt down about half- past eight last 
evening, I thought how blessed to meet at His 
footstool our Priest upon His throne, — while we 
look back to see the victim and the altar where we 
leave our sins. In our reading yesterday we came 
to Deut. xvii. 15, ' Thou shalt in any wise set 
him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall 
choose ; ' and Deut. xviii. 18, ' I will raise them up 
a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto 
thee, and will put my words in his mouth ; and he 
shall speak unto them all the words that I com- 
mand him/ — showing Christ both as king and 
prophet to be taken from among His brethren. 

I hope Mr. Rogers will take your afternoon 
class, so that you may rest. A happy Sunday to 
you, my own love. — Your own ELLEN. 



9o OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 



Our Wedding-Day. 

A pearl set in golden memories 
Stored in my heart's best treasuries/ 
Oft gazed upon with tender thoughts 
And thankful recollections. 

A portal fair to paths of truth and peace, 
Prepared by our own faithful God, 
Where He has led us hitherto, 
With many a Hallelujah. 

Sweet wedding-day ! 'twas crowned so brightly 
With sunshine fair in wintry time, 
It seemed God's smile descending sweetly 
On our heaven-formed union. 

His smile ! and oh the sweet assurance 
Of His own smile, by ours portrayed, 
Uniting us to Christ our Head, 
For higher sweet communion. 

Though six and twenty years have passed away, 

Their traces on our foreheads leaving, 

I thank my God anew and alway now 

For our dear wedding-day. — E. P. S. 

$th February 1882. 



Winterdyne, tfh May 1885. 

Though my beloved husband has left but a few 
hours, I must send him a birthday greeting for 
to-morrow. May you be greeted with rays of 



LETTERS TO HER HUSBAND. 91 

heavenly sunshine, grace, mercy and peace, and 
health. New grace for the new year. 

4.30. — Your telegram has just come — thank God 
for your safe journey. 

I was beginning to read of l strangers and 
pilgrims,' and thinking to apply it to birthday 
thoughts, when Mrs. M. called. We can content 
ourselves with being strangers here when we realize 
' heaven is my home,' and ' whom have I in heaven 
but Thee! Hallelujah, that we are not now aliens 
from Him, and that He is with us in our pilgrim- 
age. ' I am a stranger with Thee ' — He walking 
with us, and ' holding us by our right hand/ how 
condescending ! and how sweet the consciousness 
that ' there no stranger God awaits thee.' 

May the present little branch of our pilgrimage 
tend to the realization of the blessed walking with 
Him. If we knew we, both together, should be 
caught up to-be with Him, we could welcome 
shortening days and fewer birthdays ! 

... I suppose you are in your element now — 
surrounded by good friends and good words — may 
no ill wind spoil it ! 

Fondest love and wishes from your ever affec- 
tionate Ellen. 



Winterdyne, ^th May 1886. 

May best blessings rest richly on you in your 
birthday, my own beloved husband, and may you 
enjoy consciously the presence of Him in whose 
favour is life. 

My morning chapter suggests the grand assur- 



92 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

ance, ' Certainly I will be with thee/ What a 
sublime self-consciousness it assumes or indicates 
of His ' all-sufficient sufficiency' for all the great 
needs of His servant Moses in his great mission, 
and therefore infinitely enough for you, darlint ! in 
pursuing, as I hope, the even tenor of your way 
through another year. How kind and gracious has 
He been to you in the past year ! — yes, and years ! 
— and so will He continue to be. 

... I hope you will enjoy without drawback the 
pleasant evening you expected. I should like to 
enjoy it with you ; but best as it is. — With fondest 
love and wishes, your Ellen. 

Fragments. 

I can rejoice in the Child born for us, the Alpha 
and Omega, and oh, may we desire to drink of 
Him as the fountain of life. My one desire is to 
abide in Christ; I can do nothing without Him. It 
seems as if Christ was the mainspring which must 
regulate my heart, thoughts, words, and deeds. If 
the heart is one with Christ, then of necessity good 
fruit will spring forth. 

What a year of mercies, chastening, yet restoring 
mercies ! What reason to be humbled at its close 
for oft-repeated sins ; how precious His promise, 
* Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the 
sea/ — not the shallow sea of time, but the infinite 
fountain of Jesus' blood. 

With the New Year may we cast anchor anew 
on the Rock, and, safely standing there, take a calm 
survey, not only of past waves and breakers, but of 



LETTERS TO HER CHILDREN. 93 

our security, our possessions here, and our everlast- 
ing inheritance. What more can we desire if we 
can say, as I humbly do, ' All things are mine, I am 
Christ's' — yea, ' my beloved is mine, and I am His' 
— what a portion ! 

Birthday Thoughts. — Though we cannot help 
seeing the sins and shortcomings of our lives, yet 
with the Holy Spirit's help shall we not watch 
and pray? I think we need positive, definite grace 
for each service, that it may be unto the Lord. 
Ps. lxxxiv. 11. The Lord God, then, will He 
not shield us from sin and self, and shine more and 
more of His own image into our hearts ? 



WlNTERDYNE, BEWDLEY, 1 876. 

My DEAR Boys, — What may a day bring forth ! 
Thank God it did not bring such news to us as to 
others. It seems as if God were speaking loudly 
to Repton — two deaths within a few months ! I 
have often wished some good man could have a 
mission week at Repton ; but this seems God's 
own mission — and what a solemn one ! ' Hear 
ye the rod, and who appointed it ' — ' Be ye also 
ready ' — ' Escape for your lives.' But if you, my 
Willie, my Alfred, know that you are safe because 
washed in the blood of Jesus, and clothed in His 
righteousness, rejoice humbly, and be glad in Him 
who saves you, and ' tell it out among the sinners 
that He came to save ! ' What an opportunity 
for you to speak of this to others — to break the 
ice — for I know how hard you find it to speak of 



94 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

this ; but many may be longing for a word, — ' how- 
can I be saved/ — ' how r can I know I am saved ? ' 
Many may be trembling, conscience - stricken ; 
won't you speak a word — lend them a hand ? 
( The Holy Spirit helpeth our infirmities/ 

Miss Clay has just left to-day for Cheltenham, 
and stays a day or two with Anna, and then to 
her sister's in Kensington, to study the Hindoo 
language. She has had many parting presents, 
and much sympathy. Many here will feel her loss 
much. I should like that to be said of you, even 
on leaving school ! May you leave firm, bright 
footprints on the sand of your time there ! Nothing 
will make them so much so as speaking and shining 
for Jesus. 

I am off to my district, so good-bye — the Lord 
watch over you. — Your very loving 

Mother. 

WlNTERDYNE. 

It was pleasant to get your and Alfred's notes 
on the first morning of our return home, and it is 
very pleasant to congratulate you on being number 
one in your class. I hope you will not only retain 
the place, but do honour to it. Ask for grace to 
work thoroughly and steadily. Your Report says, 
c Means well, but is rather noisy at times.' Watch 
against this, remembering * Manners maketh man ; ' 
and higher still, ' Be perfect, quit you like men, be 
strong ' — ' strong in the grace of Christ Jesus.' I 
do pray that you may be directed, — let your heart's 
prayer be, ' Not my way, but Thine ; ' if you do but 
sincerely wish for His guidance, He will make 



LETTERS TO HER CHILDREN. 95 

your way plain in due time, whether to be a doctor 
or otherwise. Let it be your ambition (in whatever 
line) to be ' a man of God, thoroughly furnished 
unto all good works.' 

Should I not be proud to see you like either of the 
good clergymen who dined with us lately ! One 
of them told us such interesting stories of his work. 
One gentleman told him he had been reading and 
teaching French Infidelity for twenty years. ' Oh, 
my friend, I am not come to talk of that ; I am 
come to talk of Christ.' Answer : ' Well, I think 
you have the best of it ; you look very happy, and 
that's more that I am — I'm wretched ; and you, 
if your religion is true, have happiness before you 
for the future, but I have none.' 

I hope your papa will tell you the rest of the 
story, and others when you come home. — Your 
ever loving Mother. 

Thanks for Mr. G.'s paper ; there is much that 
is very nice in it. But what do you understand by 
' Regeneration ' ? Article 27th calls it ' the new 
birth ; ' and Tit. iii. 5 says, God saves us by ( the 
washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the 
Holy Ghost/ which is the new birth of the Spirit 
— the being born again as in John iii., of which 
the laver in baptism is merely a sacramental sign. 
It not only washes the heart from the love and 
pollution of past sin, but makes way for the re- 
newal of the soul to the Divine Image by the 
power of the Holy Ghost. So Bible regeneration 
means much more than ecclesiastical regeneration, 
or being admitted into the outward Church. 



96 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

After the 'N.B.' in your paper, you write * Bap- 
tism is a sign of what once took place/ — should 
you not say Confirmation is a sign, etc. ? To No. 
II. 'desiring them/ I would add earnestly seeking 
them, i.e. regeneration, repentance, faith, pardon, 
etc., so that it may indeed be an effectual means 
of grace to you ; let it be a time of very earnest 
prayer for these blessings. Perhaps God has 
begun before this to give them to you, but still 
pray to be renewed day by day — deeper repent- 
ance, clearer, stronger faith. 

You say, dear , ' self is in the way/ — self is 

every sinner's enemy ; 'not submitting' to Christ, we 
like to please ourselves, and have our own way. But 
oh ! I hope it is the struggling of the new nature 
within that makes you feel that self hinders you 
from being or doing what you know would please 
God. What is to be done ? You know you cannot 
be happy if you follow self against conscience ; it 
is wretched to be ever struggling, kicking against 
pricks, serving God a little, and self and Satan 
much. Only one thing can be done, — lay down 
yourself at the feet of Jesus, and ask Him, your 
Saviour, to be your Captain, to take possession of 
you, to rule and reign in you, making His will 
your will. To put His yoke upon you, so that 
you may be helped and drawn on by Him, and so 
made willing to please Him. Make yourself over 
from the one master to the other — to the One 
who loves you so, and blesses even you. It will 
be sweet to please Him who died for you, and He 
will delight in your making use of Him ; talk to 
Him, tell Him when your will rises up, and ask 



LETTERS TO HER CHILDREN. 97 

Him to bring it down, and to make you willing 
to know and do His will. In coming thus to Him 
at all times, and for all things, you will find such 
rest. ' We which have believed do enter into rest! 
Believe in His love and power and willingness to 
help, as well as to save. Lay down your arms, 
your will, yourself at once, and say, ' Yea, let Him 
take all ! ' 

I am sorry any boys should wish ' to get it over ; ' 
for what they in confirmation take upon themselves 
will never be over till life is done. A soldier's life 
is only begun when enlisting ' is over/ Pleasure and 
privileges only commence when a deed of adoption 
into a royal and happy family is signed. 

I must go back to your ' No. III.,' 'at the cost 
of some self-denial.' Only lay down self at Jesus' 
feet, and all 'the cost' will be easy, for He will 
give the strength and help required. ■ He gives 
power to them that believe in His name, to become, 
and then to live, as the sons of God/ . . . — Your 
loving Mother. 

I was hearing this morning of what I need, and 
I thought of you, my dear boys, and that you need 
it too — the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and of fire 
— Matt. iii. 11, Mr. Everard's text. He said we 
may have much natural fire of talent, eloquence, 
enthusiasm, etc., but yet we need the fire which 
only Christ Jesus can give. Have you — consider 
solemnly — a spark of this Divine fire ? here is a 
promise of it for you to claim. Think of the pro- 
perties of fire. Its power— it is one of the most 

G 



98 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

destructive elements, — at a conflagration, how it 
overpowers all before it ! Is not this what we 
need — a Divine kindling power in our religion, — a 
power to carry all before it ? Some have a spark 
of religion, but scarcely worth calling a fire ; we 
need it divinely increased, so as to spread and give 
heat and light to others — (this is the religion I long 
for you to have). We want the fire of zeal and of 
devotion in our worship ; we want the fire of love, 
which prompts to work for Him who died for us. 
Then he said very solemnly, ' You must have fire 
from the Lord Jesus some time — this baptism of 
fire for a happy life now, or fire unquenchable at 
last. Will you ask this gift now ? or, by despising, 
neglecting it, continue dry, useless chaff, and so 
bring upon yourself justly this unquenchable fire ! ' 
If, then, this baptism of fire is what we need, 
do, my dear boys, let us seek it, plead, claim this 
promise for ourselves. He said, too, in beginning, 
that as fire consumes, so we should see that our 
religion overcomes our sins ; if it does not con- 
sume, conquer our evil propensities, it is not worth 
calling religion. Ask yourselves solemnly, have 
you one spark of this fire in your soul ? if you 
have, stir it up by talking with others ; heap on 
fuel, the fuel of God's Word. You see this is a 
Divine principle, not one we can raise in ourselves — 
it is the work, the gift of Jesus ; it is to be had 
for asking, and we are responsible for not asking. 
Oh, then, do seek it, and may He kindle in you 
the flame of never dying love I 



LETTERS TO HER CHILDREN. 99 



$th December. 

I am often thinking of you, my Willie, and hoping 
you are better. 

I am afraid it is a dreary time for you while 
you are so lonely up-stairs, and I fancy you were 
much disappointed at not coming home at once. 
Your papa and I had talked about it, but Mr. 
Gould seemed quite to settle the matter ; so cheer 
up and make the best of it — fight it out, and ' be 
a hero in the strife ! ' There is good to be got 
from it if you do but seek it. Let it be a time 
for heart- work — for looking to your ways and 
your wants — for seeking the gift of the Holy 
Spirit, His Light and power y — is it not this that 
your soul needs ? power to live on Christ and for 
Christ. 

And is it not a time to ask, what have I done 
here for my Saviour ? have I lived for Him, and 
walked in His steps, so as to help others by my 
example, — can any one here say, ' you brought me 
to Jesus ' ? Try again, my son, and let your last 
days at Repton be your best days. 

I hope, too, you study something, even though 
you cannot go into school — all study tells some 
time. You did not say if you wished any more 
reading books to be sent. . . . — Ever your loving 

Mother. 

For Good Friday. 

I am thinking of you, my boys, and hoping that 
to-morrow may be a ' good ' day to you, — good in 
looking at the Lord Jesus as the Lamb of God, 



ioo OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 



bearing away your sin — standing in your place as 
condemned for sin, and forsaken of God, that you 
might go free, justified and accounted righteous in 
Him and for His sake (look at Article XL). And 
what then ? Why, let your heart sing with joy 
and thankfulness for what He has done for you. 
And look for passages that speak of it, such as 
Isa. liii., and in Rom. iii., Gal. ii., Eph. ii., and 
2 Cor. v. And may the Holy Spirit help you to 
realize and feed on these great things. . . . 



To W.andA. 

I am pleased, and so is your papa, that you 
should both go out botanizing, and I hope you 
will both try to press, place, and keep your speci- 
mens in very neat order, for it is time you learned 
more of that. If you will but take pains in such 
things now, you will find, as doctors, that habits of 
neatness, exactness, nicety, and elegance all tell. 
It will be well to return from such walks in time 
to arrange the flowers at once for pressing, for 
that is another important habit for a doctor, to 
do a thing at once — procrastinate nothing ! ' Pro- 
crastination is the thief of time,' says Young ; and 
you would soon find it the thief of money too in 
your practice. 

Thanks for your last note, dear Alfred ; re- 
member to pray for the temper of any one who is 
trying to you, as well as about your own. — Ever 
your loving Mother. 



LETTERS TO HER CHILDREN. 101 

December 1876. — Beginning life's labours and 
cares ' in the world, yet not of the world/ what need 
I ? Surely wisdom from above to lead me in right 
paths, to show me what I should do. 

' Being in doubt, I say, 
Lord, make it plain 
Which is the safe, true way, 
Which would be vain. 

' I am not wise to know, 
Nor sure of foot to go ; 
My blind eyes cannot see 
What is so dear to Thee : 
Lord, make it clear to me ; 
Lord, make it plain ! ' 

I copied these simple lines yesterday for you, 
dear Willie, because they made me think of you, 
and hope that you pray in this sort of way to be 
guided aright. Do not think that things are not 
going right, or that prayer is not heard, because 
they are not going as you wish. We do not always 
wish what is best, or what would be best. What 
a comfort to have ^foreseeing God — ' He knoweth 
the end from the beginning ; ' we see only the 
present, and therefore cannot judge of the 
future. He loves us, too, more wisely than we 
love ourselves ; so, dear Willie, commit your 
way, your life, trustingly to Him who doeth all 
things well. 

And if it does seem very disagreeable, tell it all 
to Him ; for He can bring sweetness out of bitter 
things, darkness out of light, and even turn a curse 
into a blessing, — believest thou this ? ' ' According 
to your faith, it shall be done.' Surely He can 



102 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

smooth or remove, or sweeten, or strengthen in 
your case, according to your day. Oh yes, i He is 
able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we 
ask or think.' Only try. — With anxious love, and 
hoping you are better, your affectionate 

Mother. 



To W. and A. 

The thought in my mind just now is that our 
work, our daily life, depends upon what God is to 
us, what we realize of His presence and attributes ; 
as some one says, 'The believer should remember 
that Christ is his life, and that Christianity is 
nothing less than the living exhibition of Christ 
in his daily walk.' Let this be your grand aim, 
dear Willie, to live in and on Christ, so as not to 
hinder His dwelling in you ; to let Him be your 
life, waiting, ' gasping ' (as a margin of one of the 
Psalms puts it) for Him. 

Thursday. — Apropos to this is I Pet. ii. 4, 'To 
whom coming? as Leonard Bickerstaff read it in 
the Lesson last night, it shows out to me as a 
life-long coming, and as we come, so shall we be 
built up in Him. Yes, said Mr. Everard, when I 
remarked this to him, ' Christian life is a continual 
coming to Christ.' 

He gave us a capital sermon on Isa. liii. 6 — a 
general confession to be made by all, for all are on 
the same platform, but each needs to make it 
personal like David : ' / have gone astray.' Going 
astray is forsaking God and His ways of peace, 



LETTERS TO HER CHILDREN. 103 

holiness, and life. Each ' his own way,' whether of 
ungodliness, scepticism, vice, or self-righteousness, 
etc., but all are included in the one great ' broad 
way.' Then he told a story of a lady and her 
own self-righteous religion, continuing, ' Look from 
man's erring to what God has done — not leaving 
man to destruction, but making known Jehovah's 
means of recall. Man being powerless to procure 
his own cure, Jehovah's loving will and work does 
it all. He provided a Substitute — He bore all the 
loads, burdens, mountains of sin. The Shepherd 
became the lamb (1 Pet. ii.). He bore sin by 
imputation ; the benefit becomes ours by believing.' 
Then he spoke of the many ways by which God 
leads us back, — of a gay military officer in India, 
who in tiger-hunting strayed in the jungle towards 
evening from his companions, lost his way, and 
then, his ammunition spent, he thought it might 
be his last night on earth. Horror-stricken, he 
resolved to climb a tree, but first would pray — a 
prayer, early taught by his mother, came to his 
mind ; and when he came to the words, ' Forgive 
my sins,' he could go no further — his sins rose up 
before him. That night in the jungle was the 
turning-point in his life — he was ' found in the 
waste, howling wilderness ' ! . . . — Your affectionate 

Mother. 



WlNTERDYNE, 1875. 

I should have liked last night to have telegraphed 
to you, ' Be instant in prayer,' that the teaching 
you hear may be blessed to you. Try to take it 



104 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

all as addressed to you, and may the Holy Spirit 
bring home blessed lessons to your heart. It is so 
nice to go over one's Confirmation day again, and 
to be stirred up to renew your resolutions or desires 
to give full allegiance to your God. I trust you 
have more loving desires to do so now than on 
your own Confirmation day, and He is now meet- 
ing you (Isa. lxiv.), and giving you precious oppor- 
tunities of learning of Him. May He Himself 
draw near, and draw your heart to Him as the 
one object of your life here and ' up there/ 



To W. and A. 

February 1876. 

I have only time to say a little about doctrine, 
and our mission. I wish you were here, all Mr. 
Peploe's words are so beautiful and profitable 
— all we could wish for ourselves and others. 
This day's sermon was from 1 Chron. xii. 38, 
about i men of war, who could keep rank, 
making David king.' David waited at Hebron 
till * a great host ' from each tribe came to make 
him king. So Christ is waiting for sinners to be 
gathered out, to own Him and make Him their 
King. God has given Him right and authority for 
His kingdom ; He must reign, — but how few yet 
have gathered to make Him King ! Some for 
whom He shed His Blood are saying, ' We will 
not have this man to reign over us' — shame, shame ! 
but you do not say that — but that He is, or ought 



LETTERS TO HER CHILDREN. jo 



to be, King. But this verse shows what you ought 
to do; you ought to ' make Him King,' and give 
Him the kingdom — acknowledge, confess, proclaim 
Him, without fear or shame. Who are they that 
should do this ? Men, ' expert in war that can 
keep rank ' — not babes, — you must feed and you 
must fight ; you must grow up in all things into 
Christ, and ' quit you like men/ and you must be 
whole-hearted, perfect, with a single eye towards 
Him. (Look out texts for these.) 

O my boys, this is what I long for you to be — 
1 true-hearted, whole-hearted, faithful and loyal ' to 
Christ as your King. Don't fear to come forward ; 
confessing Him before others would so strengthen 
you. And then, too, don't fear that confessing 
Him will hinder your pleasure, or your prospects 
in life; rather, it will ensure both. If people did 
but know half the blessedness and joy of making 
Christ their King, and submitting entirely to Him, 
they would never be so mad as to neglect or refuse 
doing it. If one offered to a debtor estates and 
money, and he carelessly refused, men would shrug 
their shoulders and say, 'The poor man is mad ! ' 
Oh, be wise ! and then you will find what your 
King can give you — what abundant provision 
and feasting ! and ' there is joy in Israel ' when 
He is made King. 

A fine congregation last night, not many this 
P.M. Mr. Peploe spoke to our two classes in the 
dining-room, Sunday A.M., on John i. 12. Christ 
must be received, not merely listened to, etc., but 
actually and actively received. Take up the gift 
and use it, receive Him as your righteousness, 



106 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

wisdom, your all, and He will cover you with His 
righteousness before God. Only open your heart 
to Him, and He will do all for you — will give you 
' power' to become and remain His sons — power 
to keep you from sin. Oh, accept Him !— With 
so much love from Mother. 



To W. and A. 

1878. 

I have not written to you, my boys, for a week 
or more, and it seems so long. To me it has been 
a very solemn week, waking up old memories of 
loved ones gone before, and especially of my own 
dear mother, and thinking which of us may next 
fall under the scythe of death. It is well some- 
times to try to look straight into eternity, so as to 
get its solemn light to bear upon our everyday life, 
that we may live as seeing that which is invisible. 
And oh, thank God that ours is not a dark eternity, 
no ' blackness of darkness' for us, for He has 
brought us ' out of darkness into His marvellous 
light.' ' The Lord is my light and my salva- 
tion ; ' ' though I walk through the valley and 
shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou 
art with me ; ' ' I will walk in the light of the 
Lord.' 

I have been feeling very much for your aunts 
M. and F. ; it has been such a trying, wearing time 
for them ; and now our father's last home will be 
given up, so there is much to remind them of his 



LETTERS TO HER CHILDREN. 107 

loss also. I hoped both of them would have come 
here for a few days' rest, but only aunt Maria is 
coming this afternoon. . . . 



WlNTERDYNE, May nth. 

I wish you many happy returns of the 12th, 
my Alfred ; and what does * God the Highest, 
Mightiest' wish you ! look through His Word and 
see, — it all seems to me to show that His heart 
yearns for His children's good. ' Behold what 
manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon 
us ' when He says, ' Oh that there were such a 
heart in them . . . that it might be well with 
them ! ' and when He says, ' This is my Beloved 
Son, in whom I am well pleased ; ' and * with Him 
how shall He not freely give us all things ? ' Look 
at all the promises and blessedness God c out- 
poureth for His own,' — so may His birthday message 
to you be, ' Look unto Me,' and see what a God I 
can be to you ! what blessings untold to earthly 
ears and eyes I can give you, if you only open 
your heart to receive them. Mr. Peploe said, ' We 
often keep the bolts on the back side of our hearts 
fastened, so that we do not let in God's grace and 
blessings.' Now see that you keep them un- 
fastened, and be seeking to receive them, and c see 
what " great things " He can do for you, if you 
walk in His ways.' 

Try to get a little time alone to-day, dear A., 
that you may think of and pray for these things. — 
Your praying MOTHER. 



108 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

Short Extracts. 

... I am often praying you may be strength- 
ened in mind and memory, not only for this 
examination, but that you may progress in all 
your studies. 

. . . And I suppose you will be watching all 
the incomers, and taking stock of their appearance 
and their promise for acquaintanceship. Take 
your time about that, and may God give you 
opportunity of forming Christian friendship, such 
as may be of life-long value. It is well that you 
are reading Proverbs, now that you particularly 
need a Pilot for your new course, and it sets up 
many a warning beacon of dangers you may not 
yet have encountered, ' to which you do well to 
take heed.' Do you notice what a book of contrasts 
the Proverbs is ? And how thankful it should 
make you that the Holy Spirit has led you to cast 
in your lot with the wise, the just, and righteous, 
whose wisdom, wealth, and blessings are so great 
and so sure. I hope you marked in to-day's 
chapter x., ' Whoso walketh wisely, walketh 
surely.' . . . 

. . . The year is just passing away. Oh what 
mercies and blessings it brought ! What faithful- 
ness, long-suffering forbearance have we experi- 
enced in it from our loving Father ! May we be 
more faithful and more loving to Him in the 
future. 

I hope Mr. Townsend's address was worth going 



LETTERS TO HER CHILDREN. 109 

for, — a contrast probably to your college sermons 
on ' organic generation/ etc., of which Alfred told 
me ; what texts could have been used ? You 
would rather preach on Bible regeneration, would 
you not ? and I hope you will some day. How 
pleasant to be already preparing for such preaching 
and teaching ! — f laying up in store for yourself a 
good foundation ' of knowledge, — you little know 
how and when you may be permitted to use it in 
future ; and whatever God gives us opportunity to 
learn, He may find also opportunity for us to use 
for Him. Oh seek to know and to be whatever 
will fit you for a calling so high, so Christ-like ; to 
know more of Him, your Light, your Life, your 
Love. And then this will make you seek to be like 
Him, and ' a vessel meet for the Master's use, 
prepared unto every good work.' 



To IV. and A. 

Ryde, May 1880. 

... I have been thinking of you both many 
times to-day, and that I should write to you from 
some pleasant glade below Carrisbrook Castle. . . . 
It was a pleasant walk up to the castle. It is the 
most extensive castle (English) that we have seen 
in good preservation. The views from the walls 
and keep are pleasant, — the towers of Osborne are 
visible, the hills above Ventnor, and the sea. 

I thought of Charles I. pacing there in confine- 
ment—how different from our light-hearted free- 
dom ! We saw the room where his daughter 



no OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

Elizabeth died from grief at her father's death by 
execution. The Queen has put up a fine monu- 
ment to the Princess, representing her when dying, 
leaning over her father's Bible, open at Matt. xi. 
28. . . . As I sat on the lawn inside the castle, I 
thought of Ps. cxliv. 2, P.B.V., ' My hope, my for- 
tress, my castle] and of how much the figure implies 
— of pleasure, beauty, luxury, and comfort, besides 
defence, security, and strength, — that may well 
make us say, ' Blessed be the Lord my strength.' 
The more we think of what we possess in Him, 
the more we wish to abide in Him, and go no more 
out, but only to explore and enjoy Him, — 'for how 
great is His goodness and how great is His 
beauty ' — unsearchable, unspeakable ! Oh that 
your hearts may be occupied with Him, longing 
after Him, even in the midst of work, etc. May 
nothing divert your hearts from Him ! 

... I hope your Temperance Meeting went off 
well, etc. etc. 

Short Extracts. 

... I think you must feel quite relieved at 
having told us your wish. I was hoping and 
praying for it, but could not believe it, till you told 
me yourself. So now I am glad and thankful, and 
know how to pray afresh for you. Before I was 
up this morning I was thinking you are both God's 
workmanship and His workman. We may try to 
trace some of His ways and means of working this 
wish in you, and we may also trust that He will 
make you to be a workman that needeth not to 



LETTERS TO HER CHILDREN. in 

be ashamed. And I think this morning's chapter 
must have inspirited you too, Isa. lxi. Only 
think of receiving the Spirit as Christ received it, 
in His sevenfold energy. It was upon Him, so it 
will be upon you, for you are His, and all that He 
has is yours. Oh let your expectation be from 
Him, your whole dependence upon Him, both for 
present and future work, for it will be effectual 
only as you receive out of His fulness. 

... I am so happy about you. 'From this 
day will I bless you/ rings in my mind over you 
both. How interested you must be in Jer. i. 
Moses, Samuel, Elijah, and Jeremiah could sym- 
pathize with you in fears and sense of unworthi- 
ness ; but the Omnipotent voice, ' I am with thee, 
I have put my words in thy mouth/ that will be 
enough for you as for them. 

I awoke one night lately, from dreaming about 
you, my Willie, that we had some friends at table, 
and that you in talking used the expression, 
' glorious men ! ' and that I caught it up saying, 
'Glorious men!' I fear there are few enough of 
them, but at any rate, Willie, be true to your own 
expression, and seek to be a ( glorious man ! ' 
And then I lay awake for some time thinking of 
you, and that the best recipe for 'a glorious man ' 
is that of our Great Exemplar, — ' I seek not mine 
own glory, but the glory of Him that sent Me.' I 
do think that in proportion as one seeks humbly 
and heartily for His glory, so He reflects it back 
on His creature* 



ii2 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

Ryde. wth May 1880. 

Is it really twenty-one years since that cold, 
rough day when a little delicate babe appeared 
whom we afterwards named Alfred ? For weeks 
he looked as if a breeze might waft him away, but 
prayer was offered and answered, and so he has 
now reached ' man's estate.' And so, my Alfred, 
I pray you may also spiritually ' grow up unto a 
perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the 
fulness of Christ.' That is my heart's wish for 
you, so that 'the name of the Lord Jesus may be 
glorified in you, and you in Him.' No stunted, 
sin-checked growth, but all in and by and for 
Him, — growth quickened and hastened by letting 
in the bright shining of the Sun of Righteousness. 

This is a bright sunny morning, and I wish you 
could be here for a day's holiday ! — With fond and 
prayerful love, your affectionate MOTHER. 

' Grow up into Him in all things.' 

Dearest Alfred, — To-morrow is 'a day to be 
much remembered ' in connection with you, and I 
hope to bear you on my heart before the Lord for 
new supplies for your new year, — new mercy, grace, 
and strength, that you may ' in all things grow up 
into Christ.' 

Did you notice in to-day's chapter, Lev. i., how 
much of spiritual principle is marked out for us 
in the voluntariness of the offerings ? — and this is 
shown in a threefold willingness : for gifts y Exod. 
xxxv. 21, and for work, Exod. xxxv. 29; and, 



LETTERS TO HER CHILDREN \ 113 

1 the offering of a free heart will / make, and praise 
Thy Name.' May you do so to-day. Then, all 
was to be done ' before the Lord/ and all was to be 
a i sweet savour to Him? ' The perfect satisfaction 
with which a Holy God regards the perfect work of 
His Beloved Son, is the ground of a believing 
sinner's perfect peace! Just what we need to keep 
in view in all our doings. 



20th June 1S81. 

' We be not able to go up.' 

I was struck with these words yesterday, my 
Alfred, and thought how easily we can see Israel's 
folly and faithlessness in stopping short of adding, 
' but God is able.' A parable for you, — you may 
shrink and see plenty of 'lions in the way/ but 
put your cause and your difficulties in His hand, 
saying, ' Undertake for me/ * I am Thine, help me 
to glorify Thee/ and your cause becomes His — 
' the battle is not yours but God's.' So take heart 
and look up! ... I have invited my class for 
a Temperance talk on Wednesday evening, for 
we had two sad warnings last week of the evils 
of drink, — one man hung himself, and another 
attempted to cut his own throat, but survives. 
. . . You have my anxious love and wishes, — * 
but, don't misunderstand, though I do frequently 
think and feel for you as to the coming 
examination, I am light-hearted about it, be- 
lieving that prayer will be answered and faith 
rewarded. 

H 



ii4 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 



1882. 

Meanwhile, may He keep you leaning upon 
Him, learning of Him, and so made willing to be, 
to do, or to suffer as He sees best. Did you notice 
in this morning's Psalm, ' The Lord trieth the 
righteous,' and the after reason, ' the Lord loveth 
righteousness,' loves to see the fruits of righteous- 
ness in those who are accounted righteous in His 
dear Son ? So I take it that He, loving you, is 
thus preparing you to shine in His righteousness 
the more when He renews (as I trust) your strength 
like the eagle's. Give auntie that text for me ; I 
shall pray it for you both. 



Winterdyne, yd January 1883. 

Dearest Alfred, — I must send a line to greet 
you on the day for entering on your ministerial 
work. The text on my mind for you is, ' I will go 
in the strength of the Lord, I will make mention 
of Thy righteousness, even Thine only.' That 
strength and righteousness are yours — you have 
tried them, and they will never fail you. In that 
strength may you preach that righteousness and 
the Lord of it. 

A thought on my mind just now is, The great- 
ness of the King is the honour of his ambassador. 
So may you learn more and more of your King, 
whose greatness is unsearchable, so that you 
may glory in Him. I am longing to hear of you 
already. . . . 



LETTERS TO HER CHILDREN. 115 

I was thinking much of you yesterday, and 
hoping you found some cheering service. The 
morning Psalm, xciii., showed Him the LORD 
reigning, while the Communion service showed 
Him as the pierced, thorn-crowned King, asking 
us to remember Him as such ; and I comforted 
myself in thinking of Him as risen and reigning 
again, to reign in and for you, to subdue all that 
might oppose itself to you, and make all work for 
your good. 

Did you ever put these together ? — Job xxxvi. 
5-7, Neh. ix. 32, Ps. xxiv. 8, Eph. iii. 16, with 
Amos v. 12, which shows what there is in us 
that needs God's might, and makes Isa. Ix. 16, 
lxiii. 1, and Ps. lxxxix. 19, to be good news. Over 
and above that, say Jer. xxxiii. 3, e.g. ' J. K.,' Ps. 
xvii. 7. 

Prescription in mighty storm, Ps. xciii. 4, cvii. 
25-30. 

Or when in need of great strength, Jud. xiv. 6, 
Deut. vii. 21 ; or in other difficulties, Jer. xxxii. 
19, Rev. iii. 18. Christian's daily comfort, Eph. i. 
19, Col. i. II. 

Contrast all this, and 'A Hand Almighty to 
defend, an ear for every call/ etc., with dread of 
2 Thess. i. 7, 8, Luke xii. 5. 

Winterdyne, Bewdley, i$M Tune 1883. 

Dearest Alfred, — The week is going by and 
I have not yet written to you, though thinking of 
it day by day. 



n6 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

I was praying last night for rain for our scorched 
fields and garden, and looming clouds have so often 
passed over us without rain ; and then I thought of 
' showers of blessing,' and prayed for one to come 
on and around you. And some rain did come early, 
and now again it has been falling steadily for two 
hours. And so, too, may the Holy Spirit descend 
on you, fertilizing and refreshing you within and 
for your work. 

I hope you will enjoy your Mildmay visit. By 
all means call, if you can, at Home Lodge, and I 
suppose you will see Rev. Joe Rogers too. I hope 
he has been able to find a house. Mrs. Fuchs, who 
has been here for two days to give us a drawing- 
room address, was with her husband, C. M. S. 
missionary at Benares for many years, and knew 
Mr. Storrs, and 'Ellen Goreh's ' parents ; her mother 
was such a sweet woman and used to speak so 
nicely to the natives. We had a good room full 
for Mrs. F., and she was very interesting, only her 
German accent was difficult to understand. One 
small fact showed the utter ignorance of a heathen 
man, who said to her, 'You no' need to talk so 
much about sinners and salvation ; if a man live 
sinful life and say wicked words, he has only to 
look at Ram (idol) and say, Ram, Ram, and all 
his sin is gone.' It brings one back to one of your 
papa's strong points, the need of right knowledge 
of God and of sin. 



LETTERS TO HER CHILDREN. 117 



1884. 

I must write at this solemn, important time of 
your ordination, when our thoughts and prayers 
centre so much on you. Text after text suggests 
prayers, or raises thought of the high and holy 
calling to which our God has graciously brought 
you. ' I have made thee a watchman ' — ' the priest's 
lips should keep knowledge, for he is the messenger 
of Jehovah.' c Ye are My witnesses! ' Now then 
we are ambassadors ' — ' Fellow-labourers with God.' 
No higher calling could we wish for you ! And 
we know that He who calls you to the work of the 
ministry provides you the materials and the means 
for doing it, and will fit and teach you, and be 
Himself your helper and guide in it. ' Fear not/ 
He says, ' for I am with thee ; be not dismayed, for 
I am thy God ; I will help thee, yea, I will uphold 
thee with the right hand of My righteousness.' 

And so we may expect (though you may be 
trembling at your own weakness and unworthiness, 
and the difficulties that may meet you) that He 
will make you a wise and able minister of Jesus 
Christ, giving you messages of His grace, and even 
' fitting them to your lips.' Then may we not say 
' Bless ye the Lord, ye ministers of His, that do 
His pleasure.' Delight yourself in Him, and let 
His glory be seen upon you. 

May the Holy Spirit indeed descend on you 
(and on the other candidates) to-morrow in His 
sevenfold energy ! — Your loving mother, 

Ellen Shaw. 



n8 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE, 

nth May 1885. 

Fondest birthday wishes for you, my Alfie, on 
the morrow. 

This afternoon's subject leads me to give thanks 
that ' the God of peace, the everlasting God/ has 
called you to 'the obedience of faith/ and 'is of 
power to stablish you according to the Gospel ' 
which He has given you to preach. 

And glancing down a ' railway ' to to-morrow's 
passage, I shall from that be wishing you to be 
'enriched by Him in all utterance and knowledge, 
sanctified and confirmed, that you may be blameless 
now and in the day of the Lord Jesus.' How 
much is comprised in these things ! God grant 
that you may realize them largely. 

Sorry I have no birthday present to send, only a 
few flowers ; the greenhouse is well filled, and so 
gay. . Do come quick and see it. The tennis- 
ground is being mown to-day, and I long to see 
you on it. Shall be so glad to get you home 
together. — Your loving, longing MOTHER. 

DEAREST Willie, — I was sorry afterwards that 
my last was so hurried — that I had made no refer- 
ence to your recommencement of your work after 
the sudden and unexpected gap that was made in 
it. Surely it must lead you to live and work more 
as by the light of eternity, — to live in and by 
Christ, so that when called to Him, whether by 
sudden or tedious causes, you may say, ' When I 
wake up I am still with Thee/ — to work as if each 
day might be the last. 



LETTERS TO HER CHILDREN. n9 

I have just read this : ' It is a wholesome process 
to be taken down occasionally. The grass on every 
lawn requires to be taken down by a mower ; the 
lawn never looks so well as when the keen -edged 
cutter has gone over it. Some Christians in my 
charge have never appeared so attractive in 
humility and heavenly -mindedness as when God's 
mowing machine has gone over them/ May it be 
so with you, my Willie ! 

I feel it was indeed a great mercy that that 
accident did not mow you down to rise up no 
more ; but that you are yet permitted to be among 
the ' fellow-labourers' with God. 

1885. 

Dearest Alfred, — The text on my mind 
to-day, in spite of the sorrowful funeral, is, ' The 
living shall praise Thee' — praise for life out of 
death, praise to eternity, etc., — and this came after 
reading yesterday in your gift, Abide in Christ, 
about fulness of joy, and its influence on others. 
' There is nothing so attractive as joy, no preaching 
so attractive as the sight of hearts made glad ; it is 
a mighty element in Christian character, — and for 
our own welfare joy is indispensable — the joy of 
the Lord is our strength. With a heart full of joy, 
no work can weary and no burden depress/ 

So I am praying for you to-day that His joy 
may be in you — He Himself be your strength and 
song, so that the joy of your Lord may shine out in 
your face, telling l what a dear Saviour I have found/ 
and make way for the glad tidings of peace. Your 
cares will be lightened by your vicar's return. 



i2o OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 



nth May 1886. 

Much bright blessedness to you on your birth- 
day, my Alfie, and many blessed birthdays to 
succeed this one, and in all of them may you still 
be ' increasing in the knowledge of God/ so that 
you may know more of the depth of the ancient 
promise, ' I will be to you a God.' 

I was pondering after dinner upon Rom. xiv. 9, 
'To this end Christ both died, and rose, and 
revived, that He might be Lord both of the dead 
and living.' Not for His own glory, or even for 
His Father's joy, but to be Lord to us nothings, — 
as if, knowing our nothingness, He would give us 
value, importance, and place, by putting Himself 
the All -infinite unit before us, that we may be 
headed up in Him. More and more does His 
sovereign condescension grow upon me. 



Letters to 



God's blessing rest on your birthday ! Begin the 
day with real, earnest prayer, that as God continues 
your bodily health, so your soul's life and health 
may increase. Pray now that you may be more 
like Jesus— may His Holy Spirit make you so — 
more like Him in a (1) loving spirit, (2) in cheerful 
obedience, (3) in self-denying kindness. Remember 
the Lord Jesus said, ' I have left you an example ; ' 



LETTERS TO HER CHILDREN. 121 

so try every day to see how you can follow it in 
all things. Pray that the Holy Spirit may help 
you to look at Him so as to see how loving,, holy, 
and lovely He was in all things, and that you may 
be made like Him in thought and word and deed. 
If you were like Him you would be a sunbeam to 
all. Amen ! 

How I think of you ( little travellers ' setting out 
on another term of school-life. I trust all seems 
seen in a new light — light from above, your faces 
being set Zionwards. Oh, mind and keep in the 
light, ' walk in the light,' — ever be turning towards 
it, as often as anything clouds it from you ! Above 
all, when you rise in the morning, look at the Sun 
of Righteousness — ask Him to shine into your 
hearts with the light of His love — ask Him to shine 
upon your ways and guide you in everything. 

Much birthday blessing and happiness to you ! 
I want you to enjoy the day and its blessings 
without looking onward vaguely to indefinite ' many 
happy birthdays.' If ' happy only in His love/ 
you can rise above outer surroundings, and can 
ask and expect your spiritual life to be invigorated, 
brightened. But are you ' happy in that love ? ' not 
as you wish to be ? What hinders ? — nothing, I 
should think, but the want of looking at, meditating 
on it, and letting your heart go out, gush forth 
without restraint in love to Him ; — let your heart 
sing and make melody upon ' He loved me/ and / 
am ' accepted in the Beloved.' 'Yes, in spite of 



122 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

my not loving Him, He helped me to come (even 
if but limping and wavering), and He has not cast 
me o,ut — no, He accepts me, loves me, blesses me 
with all spiritual blessings.' Cannot you talk and 
' reason ' thus with Him, and try to count over some 
of His blessings ? — such reasoning, communing with 
Him, will revive you, and help you on, for He will 
meet with you (Isa. lxiv. 5), and will revive you 
(Hos. xiv. 7). 

Give up yourself to the Lord Jesus, and let Him 
shine into your heart. Don't you want to be His 
entirely? Was not that your Confirmation wish ? 
' In Thee and all for Thee/ You trust Him for 
putting away your sin — enjoy that blessedness, and 
renew it as often as you have a transgression or an 
omission to bring to Him. But besides that, open 
your heart to Him, in everything look up to Him 
and ask Him to do it for you, or in you. 

Weymouth, October 1873. 

The coming Sunday makes me think specially 
of you. Perhaps you feel almost as unable as 
' unworthy to gather up any crumbs under His 
table ;' but ask Him to feed you by bringing to your 
remembrance the dear Saviour, and what He is, and 
what He has done for yon. Think of it not only 
as a time for feeling your own sins, but for rejoicing 
in the great, complete, God-accepted sacrifice which 
Christ made for them. I think it will help you 
much to try to praise Him for it, for praise is wing- 
Jike, lifting our hearts upwards. 



LETTERS TO HER CHILDREN. 123 



Winterdyne, 3U/ October 1874. 

Another sacrament Sunday is coming to remind 
you, my child, of * the salvation you have obtained 
in Christ Jesus with eternal glory/ — try to realize 
that you have obtained it — though perhaps you say 
with trembling, 

1 Is it for me, dear Saviour, 
Thy glory and Thy rest ? ' 

Yes, it is for you — not your getting, but His gift. 
Well, then, may you 'remember' Him who bought 
it for you with His own blood. 



Winterdyne, 30th January 1874. 

I am thinking of you, and wishing I could help 
you ' sit down with great delight ' at our Master's 
Table on Sunday — yet, though I speak of Him, I 
feel it is the Holy Spirit's office to draw our souls 
there, and to give us spiritual appetite, and so to 
present the Lord Jesus to our remembrance, that 
we may feast upon it. Ask Him then to do this 
for you now. ' He made Him to be sin for us.' 
Try to ' remember' all this, and rejoice that you 
are thus made free from sin's condemnation. 

' Payment God cannot twice demand, 
First at my bleeding Surety's hand, 
And then again at mine.' 

I am wishing you both well through your 
' exams. ;' but I want you to have better comfort 



124 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

under your burdens than merely the world's 
philosophy, ' they will come to an end some time.' 

I want you so determinately to seek help from 
above, that you may consciously find it, and say, 

I I am helped,' for ' the Lord is my helper.' The 
commonest abilities are His gift, and He can help 
each (knowing our frame), according to their need. 
Remember, 'they looked unto Him, and were 
lightened! He can do what a loving, willing mother 
cannot — or she would. 

I want you to share the pleasure of speaking 
for Jesus. Ask Jesus to help you ; live on Him 
moment by moment, so that you may speak of 
and for Him when the right moment comes. Ask 
Him for the right words — ask Him for courage ; 
but oh ! let Him reign and rule in you, that they 
may ' take knowledge of you that you have been 
with Jesus,' and learned His mind and ways. . . . 
I long for all my children to be blessings. 

26th /tine 1875. 

I have never written to you all this week ! Not 
that you were forgotten, — you were neither uncared 
nor unprayed for ; and oh, it is a comfort to know 
that He who 'pleads the causes of our souls' will 
not fail you. I often think Jesus knows just what 
your little wants are for to-day, and loves to supply 
them. I hope you ask and expect and watch 
for His supplies. . . . The grass is to be mown 
on Wednesday. His 'heart was withered like 
grass.' . . . 



LETTERS TO HER CHILDREN. 125 

We read at prayers this morning Isa. lix. and 
lxiii., as showing what sinners Christ died for, that 
we could get no salvation for ourselves, and that 
He alone brought salvation and righteousness to 
us. What views for our faith to take of Him, as 
the Lamb of God, bowing His head to receive and 
bear the sin of the world — the Great High Priest, 
with our names upon His breast, offering up His 
one sacrifice for sins for ever; and again, as our 
Good Shepherd, fighting the foe for us, that He 
might make us more than conquerors ! 

So, dear, we are, or have been, 'in the same 
box ! ' — you with your knee, I with a cold in my 
throat. I am so sorry about your knee — nothing 
like entire quiet for it. But it is hindering your 
work ! Nevertheless, get some good out of it. 
Look within, as I am trying to do. Look at your 
heart machinery and say, ' Search me, O God, 
and show me if there be any evil way in me.' 
Why do I not make more progress ? Why am I 
not more like Jesus ? Look thoroughly to see 
what clogs your wheels, and cast it thoroughly 
away — and mind you get fresh oil — the right sort 
to shine. And take special time for your Bible, 
so that its light may shine into your soul. Did 
you pray over this morning's lesson ? Dan. vi. 
I noticed how thorough-going was Daniel's re- 
ligion, for it was ' before His God/ — not altered 
to suit the word of men, even of a king. Oh, try 
to realize when on your knees that you are ' before 
your God.' Aim, too, at Daniel's faultlessness. 
Both Peter (2 Pet. iii. 14) and Paul (Phil. ii. 15 and 



126 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

j. 10) wished their disciples to be so. Mark these 
in your Bible with Dan. vi. 4. 

13M July 1876. 

I had a very pleasant holiday yesterday. We 
drove to the Leasowes — feasted on the pictures, 
some by old masters. . . . And the grounds are so 
pretty and interesting ; such trees ! and a pretty 
streamlet falling in little cascades, etc., not quite 
your Swiss waterfalls, but still I enjoyed it all 
extremely — nevertheless feeling all the while that 
it would not satisfy me without the real, the last- 
ing, the living Friend within ! ' All this, and Christ 
beside!' or, should not our hearts say, i All Christy 
and this beside ! ' Oh, is it not delightful to 
enjoy Him deep down in one's heart ? 

1 Him first. Him last, Him midst and without end.' 

Don't you often say too — 



' Thou who hast given me eyes to see 
And love these sights so fair, 
Grant me the grace to find out Thee, 
And read Thee everywhere. ' 

August 1880. 

I am sorry ... for your disappointment ; ' Man 
proposes,' etc. Take it as a bit of life-discipline, 
one of the ways or paths of your Father's own 
appointment, remembering c all the paths of the 
Lord are mercy and truth to such as keep His 
covenant.' * Walk before Him ' in it, i.e. as in His 
presence, and He will make His face to shine upon 
you, and give you peace. Now you can say, * Thy 
way, O Lord, not mine.' 



LETTERS TO HER CHILDREN. 127 



igf/z February 1881. 

... I have had a happy birthday, with many a 
quiet little pleasure in addition to the deeper sense 
of the long-suffering and unwearied loving-kind- 
ness that have accompanied me all these years, 
and brighten the present ; and my very ' trivial 
tasks/ too, have been bright with His love. Little 
Edward said that I had ' a very happy birthday 
in helping him with his ark ' ! He had made me 
a marker and an ivy wreath. 



Buxton, 2$th July 1881. 

As to your future course, I can only say, ' Wait 
on the Lord ' for guidance ; ' as the eyes of ser- 
vants look unto the hand of their masters, and as 
the eyes of a maiden unto her mistress, 5 so let your 
eyes be unto the Lord, until He gives some signal 
for action. And so in your daily chapter (John x.) 
for to-day, if you think you have heard His voice 
calling you to go forth — that is all you know as 
yet — then keep close to Him, listening, following 
in His steps, learning of Him, so that you may be 
ready for whatever He may call you to. Depend 
on the word, 'the way of the righteous is made 
plain' (Prov. xv. 19). This leads me to conclude 
that you should not go before God in making in- 
quiries, but ' wait ' for His providence to give you 
further call or direction. //"He 'has need of' 
you, can He not send a disciple to you when His 
time has come ? 



128 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 



Winterdyne, December 1884. 

Best birthday blessings to you, my dear lonely 
child. I don't like to think of you in the lone 
distance, only it is, I believe and expect, for your 
good, — and the sun shines everywhere ! So may 
the Sun of Righteousness arise and shine on you 
with healing in His beams — healing for body and 
soul. And may He shine into your heart, and give 
you more and more of the light of the knowledge 
of the glory of God, so that you may go on your 
way rejoicing even if in suffering. 

Aunt Maria went yesterday to see her ' little 
Joseph/ and found him so happy — such peace and 
joy flowing in his heart ; he said, ' It's like gold to 
our dross, like diamonds to our grits ! so good of 
God to give His Son for me !' May such joy, such 
music flow on in your heart, my child — it is all 
for you. 

November 1885. 

. . . This will bring your mother's renewed love 
and fervent wishes for fresh upspringings in you of 
the living waters, and continued outflowings of God's 
bounties to and around you. How good has He 
been to you, and to me, in sparing you and all 
our unbroken circle ! Oh that life in Him may 
be more real, so that life for Him may be more 
earnest ! ' What a black edge for a birthday note/ 
I thought as I took this sheet of paper ; but it is 
not really very inappropriate, for i in the midst of 
life we are in death,' and there is always much to 



LETTERS TO HER CHILDREN. 129 

mourn for in the departed year. How can He 

bear with me ! I often say. But look unto Him, 

the perfect One, delight in His perfections, and 
live in His fulness. 

23rd December 1885. 

I must send you my loving Christmas greetings 
to-day, lest to-morrow's overburdened post should 
fail. So may the blessedness of the Great Gift be 
expanded upon you both, my dear ones, in body 
and in soul. May some fresh enjoyment of the 
Angel's message come to you, some new realization 
of the precious Gift delight you. ' God's Gift of 
Gifts, all other gifts in one/ 

God has showered so many sweet blessings on 
you all, that there should be the heart's return — 
still, both the objective and the subjective are of 
Him, so we may hope that He will work both in 
you and by you. 

Winterdyne, December 1885. 

Best birthday blessings to you, my child ! I 
hope my basket of somewhat typical things — 
nourishment and pleasant fruits — are reaching 
you this afternoon. May the real blessings ( pre- 
vent ' and overtake you day by day throughout 
your added year. (Deut. xxviii. 2.) 

I will specially ask for the help you wish for 
Sunday and Wednesday. May His words for 
those times ' be fitted to your lips/ and they cannot 
return to Him void ! 

I have been looking out what the Proverbs say 
about friends — what they should not do, and what 

T 



130 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

they should do, leading to what our best Friend 
does for us. May He be very near and dear to you 
as your Counsellor (now you are so much on your 
own responsibility), your rich Friend who delights 
to give out of His fulness. 

Winterdyne, December 1886. 

Abundant birthday blessings to you, you dear 
child, more than I can ask or think ! What mani- 
fold mercies have been brought you, and it will be 
* better farther on ; ' how comfortable to know that ! 
God grant that you may have more enjoyment of 
the life He gives, and more power to serve Him. 
And the spiritual life, that is your chief anxiety, 
is it not? May that too be invigorated — Christ 
in you be more realized, living in you to energize 
and quicken to all well-pleasing. Oh to have 
one's eye always on Him as our life, living for us, 
to intercede for and bless us, to rule and reign and 
work in us, and to be consciously always under 
His control and guidance! 



BIBLE NOTES 



BIBLE NOTES. 

TAKEN FROM MORE THAN FOUR HUNDRED. 

{Prepared chiefly for E. P. S.'s Class of Young Men.) 



MOSES' CHOICE. 

Exodus ii. 

MOSES saved, nursed, adopted in the king's 
house — then we might expect he would remain 
always there, and share its honours, etc., but ver. 
15 shows he left the court, and 'went to the 
land of Midian.' Why ? Heb. xi. 24-26 explains. 
* Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people 
of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a 
season ; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater 
riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he had 
respect to the recompence of the reward.' It 
was Moses' own doing to leave the court ! You 
would think much of going to the Queen's court, 
if only as a servant ; but Moses gave up real rank 
and honour. 

He refused three things. 1. The rank of a son 

of the princess. Men like to ' rise in the world,' to 

133 



134 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

be thought great, but Moses gave it up ! 2. Re- 
fused * pleasures ' — plenty of them in Egypt ; 
learning, art, i designing] and doing grand things ; 
gaiety — just what most people run after, all were 
given up ! 3. Refused the ' treasures of Egypt,' 
great wealth there, temples, pyramids, ' the 
mightiest buildings in the world/ still show it ; 
so Moses might have been very rich. How men 
toil, travel, etc. for money ! Some act as if money 
could cover all sin and failing — as if money were 
everything — but Moses gave it up ! 

Was he obliged to give it up ? No ; he chose — 
considered, and made choice. Was it to get some- 
thing better ? Chose ' affliction ' and suffering, 
along with the oppressed, tormented Israelites — 
to be one of them ! Strange ! How he would be 
laughed at, scorned, thought mad ! But he was 
not laughed out of it ; he stood to his choice. 
Nothing like being sure we have made a good 
choice, and then we can keep to it. 

What was Moses' reason or principle in choos- 
ing? ' Faith* (Heb. xi. 24) was the mainspring 
that made him act thus, that made him ' refuse ' 
and 'choose' as he did. Faith in what? In God 
and His word to Abraham (Gen. xii. 3), faith in 
the promises of blessing— future blessing ; for 
faith was as a telescope bringing them to his 
sight. Heb. xi. 27 tells us who he saw — ' Him 
who is invisible.' Moses could not see as much of 
Him as David and Isaiah did, but he saw that 
some Blessed One of Abraham's seed would come 
to bless. We can see better still. ' God, having 
raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in 



BIBLE NOTES. 135 



turning away every one of you from his iniquities ' 
(Acts iii. 26). He hath ' blessed us with all 
spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ' 
(Eph. 1. 3). So Moses saw it was better to cast 
in his lot with God's people, and wait for blessing 
in the end. Faith helped him to interpret things 
rightly — that although Israel was oppressed then, 
there was a glorious future ! He saw that glorious 
future c reward ' so plainly that Egyptian pleasures 
seemed not worth having (as motes in a sunbeam). 
It was better to belong to the King over all, than 
to King Pharaoh — and he was right ; the name of 
Pharaoh's city and his daughter are forgotten, 
the wealth is gone, Egypt became the ' basest of 
kingdoms ; ' but there is ' an inheritance incor- 
ruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, 
reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the 
power of God through faith unto salvation ' (1 Pet. 
i. 4, 5). 'A kingdom which cannot be moved' 
(Heb. xii. 28). 

Do make Moses' choice and use his telescope. 
If you don't choose God, you remain with the world 
and Satan. You will never be saved if you don't 
choose. Decide ' this day' (Josh. xxiv. 15). If 
you used Moses' telescope you would choose ! 
Look up with it to the everlasting King, the King 
of glory, and His everlasting love — at what He 
has in store, ' treasure that waxeth not old,' 
' durable riches,' and righteousness, grace, and 
glory — a 'kingdom' (Luke xii. 32) and a ' crown' 
(Jas. i. 12). Oh, choose these instead of Satan's 
wages ! 



136 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

THE CURTAINS OF THE TABERNACLE. 

Exodus xxvi. 

The curtains of the tabernacle were of four sorts, 
ist, linen (ver. i); 2nd, goats' hair (ver. 7) ; 3rd, 
rams' skins dyed red (ver. 14) ; 4th, badger or 
seal (ver. 14). What supported the curtains? 
Fifty-four boards (vers. 15, 20). How did they 
stand? (vers. 11-19). On silver sockets (ch. xxvii. 
10, 11), with fillets above. No one was numbered 
unless he brought redemption money. Silver from 
whom? (ch. xxxviii. 25-27). Given by Israel to 
God in remembrance of redemption. Exod. xii. 
13, 'And when I see the blood I will pass over 
you.' So the foundation of Israel's and our 
meeting God is redemption. So He says, c I 
have found a ransom.' How were they held 
together at the top ? By bars and rings (vers. 
26-29). So Christ not only raises the spiritual 
temple, but holds it, binds all together, keeps it. 
'By Him all things consist' (Col. i. 17). Ver. 22, 
Why were there only six boards west ? To leave 
an entrance to the Holiest, which was covered by 
the veil, or separate curtain (vers. 31-33). This 
veil (spoken of in Matt, xxvii. 51, Luke xxiii. 45, 
Heb. x. 20) was not the only type of Christ. The 
whole tabernacle was a type of Him. He was the 
meeting-place. He was i the true Tabernacle' (Heb. 
viii. 2) that 'tabernacled among us.' 

Christ became man to become visible to men. 



BIBLE NOTES. 137 



'The Word was made flesh' (John i. 14), for we 
cannot yet see God. See what the curtains teach 
of Him. The inner ones were of fine white linen. 
Linen, then the whitest fabric known, denoted 
Christ's purity. ( And to her was granted that she 
should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white : 
for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints ' 
(Rev. xix. 8) ; and He is ' able to save them to the 
uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He 
ever liveth to make intercession for them' (Heb. 
vii. 25). So it is the emblem of His spotless man- 
hood. ' Pure, unspotted, may we be.' 

'Blue* — heavenly colour, as for example, the 
sky. Christ, so heavenly-minded that He could 
say on earth He was in heaven. ' The Son of 
man which is in heaven' (John iii. 13). He never 
forgot His Father or home in heaven. ' If ye 
then be risen with Christ, seek those things which 
are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand 
of God ' (Col. iii. 1, Matt. vi. 20). 

Pttrple denotes royalty. He was born King. 
'Where is He that is born King of the Jews' 
(Matt. ii. 2). He reigns now in heaven (Ps. xxiv.). 

Scarlet — sacrificial colour, denotes death (cochi- 
neal, chief red, insects made to die to give colour). 
So Christ was the victim of sacrifice. What do 
the goats' hair curtains teach ? They hid (ver. 7), 
covered the beautiful fine ones — just so Christ's 
beautiful, spotless, righteous character is not known. 
' There is no beauty that we should desire Him ' 
(Isa. liii. 2). 

The goat was an animal for sacrifice ; its blood 
was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement — (scape- 



138 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

goat). So Christ was numbered with malefactors, 
that by His death and by His blood your sin might 
be covered over and blotted out. 

Rams" skins dyed red. To show the intense 
depths of Christ's love ; being determined to save, 
showed the reality of His devotion. 

Badger or seal skins were coarse and dark- 
looking, not attractive to strangers. ' He hath no 
form nor comeliness ; and when we shall see Him 
there is no beauty that we should desire Him ' 
(Isa. liii. 2). What a contrast to the inside ! Oh 
this is like Christ now! few come near to see His 
loveliness, His preciousness. They glance outside, 
and do not care to look and learn — Tor the sinful 
natural heart cannot see His beauty, or its own 
need. ' The natural man receiveth not the things 
of the Spirit of God : for they are foolishness unto 
him ; neither can he know them, because they 
are spiritually discerned' (1 Cor. ii. 14). The 
passer-by might scoff at the black tabernacle, but 
could he see the inside, which was so different ! 
Only come to Christ. Pray, ' Open Thou mine 
eyes.' The beauty of the tabernacle was soon 
seen, but Christ's beauty will be new through all 
eternity. Remember this beautiful tabernacle was 
for a meeting-place with God. Its greatest value 
was in being a type of Christ as our meeting- 
place. ' Now in Christ Jesus ye who sometime 
were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ ' 
(Eph. ii. 13). Like a cypher, its chief value is 
when a numeral is placed before it — so the great 
value of the tabernacle is to teach of Christ. It 
contains a double type of the Church as the 



BIBLE NOTES. 139 



dwelling-place of Christ — believers are Christ's 
tabernacle. As the tabernacle was made to con- 
tain the Ark of the Covenant, so the Church is 
built for Him (Eph. ii. 19-22) ; dwelt in by Him. 
' That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith ' 
(Eph. iii. 15-19). The whole Church is built on 
redemption — * redeemed . . . with the precious 
blood of Christ/ All that is Christ's is theirs. 
Best part was within the curtains — unseen by 
the world (the world cannot know our treasures ; 
our joys are hid in Christ, and enjoyed in secret). 
The curtains were coupled together from above 
(Exod. xxvi. 24). ' That they all may be one in 
Us, as Thou, Father, art in Me' (John xvii. 21). 

1 Taches of blue! No friendships so firm as 
Christians. There are many links — Temperance 
is one — showing the blue tache may couple you 
with some good friend. 



THE SIN-OFFERING FOR IGNORANCE. 

Leviticus iv. 

See when ox for whom offered. Vers. 2, 3, ' If a 
soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the 
commandments of the Lord concerning things 
which ought not to be done, and shall do against 
any of them : if the priest that is anointed do sin 
according to the sin of the people.' Vers. 13-20, 
' If the whole congregation of Israel sin through 
ignorance, . . . and they have done somewhat 



140 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

against any of the commandments of the LORD 
concerning things which should not be done, and 
are guilty ; when the sin, ... is known/ etc. 
Lev. xvi. 27-30, ' And the bullock for the sin- 
offering, and the goat for the sin-offering, whose 
blood was brought in to make atonement/ etc. For 
sins of ignorance, not so much for a single sin, but 
for a sinful nature that keeps us ignorant, blind, 
insensible to sin. Do not think because you have 
not told lies, etc., that you need no offering. You 
often say, ' I didn't think — didn't know — or I did 
not intend wrong — I did not see or seize oppor- 
tunity.' Think what a holy, prayerful lad you 
should be, shining for Jesus, and how you fall short 
of it (sin in Hebrew often means ' missing the 
mark ' — not coming up to the standard, so ' he that 
sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul,' Prov. 
viii. 36), and then you will be thankful for our sin- 
offering. ' He hath made Him to be sin for us, 
who knew no sin' (2 Cor. v. 21). What was the 
sin-offering ? Lev. iv. 14, a bullock, or for any one 
of the common people, a kid (Num. xxviii. 22) or 
a lamb ; either being slain showed that death was 
deserved by the sinner who offered it. It was his 
substitute. No oil or frankincense, no feasting 
with this, for it taught man was a sinner deserving 
death — but an animal was slain instead, to be the 
penalty of sin. The Hebrew for sin-offering is the 
same as sin, so that the animal became the sin, or sin- 
bearer. The animal was of value, but there is no 
comparison between it and man's self, or his son. 
A man would as soon suffer himself as let his son 
suffer. God did not give an animal or angel for 



BIBLE NOTES. 141 



us, but Himself — One, equal with the Father, gave 
Himself. 1 Pet. ii. 24, ' Who His own self bare our 
sins in His own body on the tree/ I Pet. iii. 18, 
' Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for 
the unjust.' Think how painful to the Holy One, 
hating, abominating sin, to be ' made sin,' ' reckoned 
with transgressors. 5 Oh, how He loved ! 

How did the offerer transfer guilt? Lev. iv. 15, 
' The elders of the congregation shall lay their 
hands upon the head of the bullock.' Ver. 29, ' He 
shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin-offering.' 
He had to humble himself to do this before the 
priest and the congregation. Need you do this ? 
No, only come to Christ ; there is no hindrance. 
Have you come ? Why not ? God is satisfied with 
Christ's offering — why not with you ? Have you 
' not thought ' about it, ' not liked to do it/ etc. ? 
Then you slight, neglect it. Heb. ii. 3, ' How shall 
we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ? ' 
Heb. x. 29, ' Of how much sorer punishment . . . 
shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden 
under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the 
blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, 
an unholy thing.' He pleads with you, ' Is it 
nothing to you, all ye that pass by ? behold, and 
see if there be any sorrow like My sorrow ' (Lam. i. 
12). How did God show He was satisfied with a 
sin-offering? Lev.iv. 6, 7, By commanding sprinkling 
of blood before Him, to show that now God would 
accept the worshipper. This shows that the sin 
was before God. Do not forget that sin is ' against 
God ' (Ps. Ii. 4), and so the blood must be taken to 
where sin reached — that the sin might be put away. 



142 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

Where was the blood also put ? Ver. 34, on ' the 
horns of the altar/ for there God met the sinner. 
So the precious blood went before us into God's 
presence, being poured out here below, as an atone- 
ment for us. 'By His own blood He entered once 
into the holy place' (Heb. ix. 12). 

The fat and inwards were burnt separately 
(vers. 8-1 1 ). These represented the will, thoughts, 
and affections of Christ. What was done with the 
rest? All was burnt, consumed (ver. 12). Why? 
If the animal represented sin, and it was all burnt 
to ashes, and could not be recovered or made any- 
thing of, it showed that sin was brought to nothing 
— no more to be brought against the sinner. It 
tells of hell fire which sin deserved. Blessed be 
God for devising means of escape ! The blood and 
ashes being poured out say all is finished. 

Is the blood of Jesus between you and God's 
awful holiness and justice ? Trust only to it ! 



THE BREASTPLATE. 

Exodus xxviii. 15. 

The breastplate was an ornament, ' a span ' or 9 
or 10 inches square when doubled (ver. 16). It had 
chains and rings (vers. 22-25). Why? to secure it. 
How many jewels were in it ? (vers. 17-21). Why 
twelve ? As much as to say that each tribe was as 
precious as a jewel. All were different, e.g. car- 
buncle, fire-red, Zebulon ; topaz, golden tinge, for 



BIBLE NOTES. 143 



Issachar. But they were all treated alike, all were 
precious, and all were secure. To put a thing near 
the heart means to love and value it. Then the 
breastplate showed Israel the love of the high 
priest for them all. What more ? Ver. 29, It was 
to remind him of them all when he went in ' before 
the Lord ' as their representative. How often ? 
Ver. 30, ' Continually.' What does this teach of 
our High Priest ? Do you not wish to know more 
of Him ? or is He nothing to you ? But see what 
He is and feels for His people. Read the Bible to 
see how He loves and remembers them. A glimpse 
of how He bears them on His heart to His Father 
is given in John xvii. He knows all their names. 
John x. 3, ' Calleth His own by name.' (The Queen 
cannot.) He will not forget. ' They may forget, 
yet will I not forget thee. I have graven thee upon 
the palms of My hands' (Isa. xlix. 15, 16). Pray, 
as in Song of Sol. viii. 6, ' Set me as a seal upon 
Thine heart,' and believe He has you there. * My 
kindness shall not depart from thee' (Isa. liv. 10). 
c O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotton of Me ' 
(Isa. xliv. 21). Put Him in mind of these when 
tempted and tried. ' Having loved His own which 
were in the world, He loved them unto the end ' 
(John xiii. 1). ' Seeing that we have a great High 
Priest, that is passed into the heavens ... let us 
hold fast our profession ' (Heb. iv. 14). Never doubt 
He is ' loving all along.' And oh ! it is not empty 
or helpless love. He not only feels for you, but 
' will with the temptation also make a way of escape, 
that ye maybe able to bear it' (1 Cor. x. 13). And 
go back to the onyx stones. Where were they? 



H4 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

Exod. xxviii. 12, on the shoulder — place of 
strength (' put a shoulder to the wheel '). What about 
our High Priest's strength? * Ps. lxxxix. 19-21, 
' I have laid help upon One that is mighty/ ' Thou 
hast a mighty arm, strong is Thy hand/ ' Their 
Redeemer is strong' (Jer. 1. 34), and so Isa. ix. 6, 
'The government shall be upon His shoulder.' 
' Wherefore He is able also to save to the utter- 
most' (Heb. vii. 25). All this power to help and 
save is for YOU, whenever you need it, if you will 
ask for it. Who would lose earthly help for lack 
of asking ? 

But were the stones safe ? The breastplate was 
fastened firmly to the shoulder, and how were the 
jewels secured? Each was i set in gold' (vers. 11 
and 20), gold held them in- — not they held the breast- 
plate. What makes Christians safe ? Being set ' in 
Christ.' (See 2 Cor. i. 21.) ' The God of all grace . . . 
make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you ' 
(1 Pet. v. 10). 'The Lord is faithful, who shall 
stablish you, and keep you from evil' (2 Thess. iii. 3). 
' No man is able to pluck them out of My Father's 
hand' (John x. 29). Pray then, 'keep me, for I 
cannot keep myself.' 

But does God reckon sinners as jewels ? ' Not 
likely,' do you say? 'Worthless, unprofitable, of 
what value am I ?' Yet, ' they shall be Mine, saith 
the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My 
jewels ' (Mai. iii. 17). He says it I So then, how are 
sinners like jewels ? They are of no intrinsic worth. 
Originally the sapphire was clay; the opal, sand ; the 
diamond, soot or carbon. Water, crystallized into 
star-forms, snow -like, becomes crystal. Wonder- 



BIBLE NOTES. 145 



ful changes ! So a sinner can be changed too. ' He 
brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of 
the miry clay' (Ps. xl. 2). c He raiseth up the poor 
out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the 
dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make 
them inherit the throne of glory' (1 Sam. ii. 8). 

If you want to be one of God's jewels, how can 
you become so ? By being ' born again ' (John ii 1 . 
3). By being ' changed into the same image, from 
glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord \ 
(2 Cor. iii. 18). 



THE LAND LOST. 

Numbers xiv. 

Sad sights and sounds again ! Were they 
caused by God or man ? ' Sin brought death into 
the world, and all our woe.' Ver. 1, they i cried', 
but not to God — wept, but not for sin — they 
mitrmnred — our journey is all in vain — our ruler 
and the spies say we cannot go in. Oh, those 
giants ! better return to Egypt ! ' They looked 
back' (Luke ix. 62). They looked at man — at 
earthly dangers — at man's words — worse still (see 
Deut. i. 27), they said— ' The Lord hated us ! ' If 
ever tempted to think ill of your heavenly Friend, 
think of this — you can see how wicked and foolish 
this was, and it is a true picture of other mur- 
murers. The fault was all their own. Moses 
reminded them of this in Deut. i. 29, 33, ' Dread 

K 



146 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

not, neither be afraid of them. Who went in the 
way before you, to search you out a place ... in 
fire by night . . . and in a cloud by day.' Con- 
trast Caleb's and Joshua's report (Num. xiv. 6-9), 
' The land . . . is an exceeding good land . . . rebel 
not, neither fear ye . . . the Lord is with us.' 
God's love, power, was their experience of Him. 
When trouble comes to you, fall back on these. 
1 His love in times past/ etc., and then instead of 
fears and murmurs say (Ps. xxvii. 1), 'The Lord 
is my light and my salvation ; whom shall I fear ? ' 
etc. Who beside Moses reasoned ? (see ver. 6). 
Did the people attend? No (see ver. 10), 'the 
congregation bade stone them.' Though the rulers 
and spies had a right to speak, and stood up for 
God, all the people raged against them. (So with 
Christ, John x. 31.) What stopped the stoning? 
' The glory of the Lord appeared.' Think when you 
do wrong, quarrel, etc., ' God is here/ He sees and 
hears — that would stop it. God pronounced sentence 
at once, for He knew all. Ver. 12, He said He 
would 'disinherit them.' What hindered the execu- 
tion of this sentence? Moses' mediation (vers. 13- 
19). What did he plead? God's mercy (ver. 18). 
God's honour (ver. 16). With what effect ? Ver. 20, 
'The LORD said, I have pardoned, according to 
thy word.' Ezek. xx. 13, 17, explains how God 
punished sin, though not disinheriting them, for 
His ' Name's sake.' Pestilence fell not on all, but 
only on ten of the spies (ver. 37). What about 
people who had wished to die in the wilderness ? 
(ver. 2). They should have their wish (vers. 29, 35), 
' in this wilderness they shall be consumed ' — ' your 



BIBLE NOTES. 147 



children shall wander in this wilderness forty 
years/ See why, ver. 22, * because all those men 
. . . have tempted Me now these ten times, and 
have not hearkened to My voice.' Ver. 31, 'But 
your little ones, they shall know the land which ye 
have despised.' Ps. cvi. 24, 'They despised the 
pleasant land, they believed not His word.' God 
gave respite, the people were not cut off by 
pestilence, but for forty years (ver. 34) ' ye shall bear 
your iniquities.' Now they know their loss, and 
they ' mourned greatly ' (ver. 39), they presumed to 
go up (ver. 44). They had lost their land ! How ? 
Heb. iii. 18, 19, 'So we see they could not enter in 
because of unbelief.' We are reminded, warned, of 
this on Sundays in the Venite. See Heb. iii. 12, 
'Take heed, lest there be in any of you an evil 
heart of unbelief, in departing from the living 
God,' — for unbelief is eye and heart turned away 
from God, looking, loving, trusting something else. 
Israel looked at dangers, weakness. What are you 
looking at that you do not claim the promise and 
find joy and peace ? Do you say ' it would not be 
rest to me to " come "- — not what I want ' ? Oh, how 
far you are from God ! — you like Egypt, the world, 
best. Do not lose the blessed peace, rest, joy, 
sunshine of God's love, cheering all life — or you 
will lose eternal rest. 

' Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, 
lest any man fall after the same example of 
unbelief (Heb. iv. 11). 



T48 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 



SAMSON'S WIFE. 

Judges xiv. 

What sort of wife might they expect the con- 
secrated Nazarite Samson to choose? What com- 
mand should he have remembered ? ' Neither shalt 
thou make marriages with them ' (Deut. vii. 3). 
How did his parents show their surprise ? (ver. 3). 
A good bishop says, c I wish Manoah could speak 
so loud that all our Israelites might hear.' Those 
who wish to be true Christian men had better 
take no wife than one with ' uncircumcised heart/ 
What reason or excuse did Samson give ? (margin, 
' it is right,' i.e. God wills it ?) ' Pleases me ' is 
often the worst thing for us, e.g. Eve's apple. 
Ver. 4, It is not said that God bade him take this 
Philistine. I think God left him to follow his own 
desires to humble him, and to warn others, and to 
overrule it for good to Israel. He kept sober, etc., 
yet followed his own foolish imaginations. Don't 
flatter yourself because you are sober, etc., that 
you are safe. Remember to ' keep thy heart with 
all diligence' (Prov. iv. 23). 'Keep thee from the 
strange woman ' (Prov. vii. 5). * Let him that 
thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall' 
(1 Cor. x. 12). 

Yet Samson was right in one thing — who did he 
speak to about it ? His parents. 

In going to Timnath he might have made the 
sluggard's excuse (Prov. xxii. 13), 'The slothful 



BIBLE NOTES, 149 



man saith, There is a Hon without, I shall be slain.' 
Samson was in danger, but the strong young lion 
could not hurt him whom God had said should 
deliver Israel. ' Man is immortal till,' etc. ' He 
rent him ' — a wonderful feat — it might have taught 
him that God could strengthen him to overcome 
Philistines without marrying one, for it was the 
Spirit's work, an earnest of future victories (see 
another example of God's power over lions, Dan. vi.), 
and so a preparation for future work. If God gives 
you lion -like temptations and victory over them, 
it is to encourage you to fight and overcome. 
'Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory.' 
The ' roaring lion' seeks you — you can't overcome 
him, but God can. Did Samson talk or boast of 
it ? did he forget it ? When God delivers us, we 
should remember it (Ps. ciii. 1, 2), 'forget not all 
His benefits.' What surprised him there ? Strange 
for clean bees to build in the carcase and prepare 
honey for Samson ! How God can bring good 
out of evil, pleasure from terror ! What use did 
Samson make of it? A 'riddle,' first to entertain 
his guests, and then an occasion to begin his 
delivering Israel. A riddle for you ! How can 
this be said of Christ ? You can say He is sweet 
and strong, but how an ' eater ' and ' meat ' ? See 
what He is called in Rev. v. 5, i Lion of tribe of 
Judah,' that Lion who said (Ps. 1. 22) ' Consider 
this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces.' 
Matt. x. 28, ' Him who is able to destroy both soul 
and body in hell.' Is Pie strong ? Ps. xxiv. 8, ' The 
Lord strong and mighty.' How does 'meat' come 
forth from Him for us? John vi. 51, 'I am the 



150 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

living bread/ etc. You have often heard and read 
of Jesus laying down His life for you — to-day He 
says, ' Do this in remembrance of Me.' 

Samson was angry with his wife for telling his 
riddle, so he went home. How did he intend 
to make up the quarrel? Ch. xv. I, ' visited his 
wife with a kid.' ' Cease from anger, and forsake 
wrath ' (Ps. xxxvii. 8). Her father, in giving Sam- 
son's wife to his companions, gave Samson an 
occasion or excuse to attack them ; they could 
not blame him for fighting when they had injured 
him — this is no rule for Christians. 

In ch. xiv. we had Samson's riddle, now 
Samson is a riddle to us. Ch. xvi. shows him 
acting in such worldly and wicked ways — and yet 
he was a Nazarite, — appointed to deliver Israel — 
strengthened by the Spirit, and had 'good report' 
(Heb. xi. 32, 39). Think what sort of strength the 
Spirit gave? only bodily strength. Did that do 
any good to his heart ? that was still corrupt and 
sinful, and Samson indulged it. See how he gave 
way to Delilah, allowing her again and again to 
entice him, as she herself was enticed by Philistines. 
(1000 pieces or £600.) He amused himself by pre- 
tences, deceiving her about his source of strength. 
At first he would not tell her how it was, the third 
time he went nearer the truth and made way for 
ver. 19 ; but while amusing himself he told un- 
truths, and fell into Satan's snare. (Prov. vii. 21, 22.) 
Not only was it wicked but foolish of Samson to 
trust himself with such a woman. If we indulge 
in one sin, we may soon fall into another. ' Trust 
him in nothing, who makes not conscience of every- 



BIBLE NOTES. 151 



thing/ Why did he not go away ! The woman's 
company made him FORGET God. We hear of no 
prayer ; we can't walk with God and with wicked 
persons. Take such a companion, and God goes 
from us. If Samson was so foolish and wicked, so 
you may be. Your heart is as wicked, and Satan 
sows seeds of sin which may spring up at any time. 
So watch, and pray ' keep me, for I cannot keep 
myself.' ' Turn away mine eyes" i Set a watch 
before my mouth.' 

( The substance of two lessons?) 



DAVID AND JONATHAN. 

1 Samuel xviii. 1-4, xx. 

The FRIENDSHIP of David and Jonathan is a 
model and a typical one. Jonathan's character 
and love are sometimes so surpassing that he might 
be mistaken for the type of Christ ; but that is 
always David's part — his name means beloved. 
' Jonathan prefigured the faithful Israel of God, 
who hailed the advent of the true David, and 
rejoiced in His triumphs.' Saul is typical of the 
world, the scribe and Pharisee-like enemies. 

Two remarkable descriptions of Jonathan's love 
are recorded. Ver. 1, His soul was ' knit with 
the soul of David.' (David's own description of it, 
2 Sam. i. 26, intimates communion, not love for 
one side of character, but for the whole, firmly 
interwoven. So Jacob and Joseph — c His life is 



152 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

bound up in the lad's life,' Gen. xliv. 30, and 
David and the men of Judah, 1 Chron. xii. 17, 
1 My heart shall be knit unto you.' So Col. ii. 2, 
' Being knit together in love.') ' Loved as his own 
soul ' (vers. 1 and 3). (See the Second Command- 
ment — but how seldom is it fulfilled!) If this be 
the measure of love to our fellows, how much more 
to i the Beloved of our soul ' ! Turn aside and see 
the measure of our David's love to us. ' As the 
Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you.' 
1 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man 
lay down his life for his friends' (John xv. 9, 13). 
' But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, 
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us ' (Rom. 
v. 8). One proof of Jonathan's love was that he 
made a covenant with David (ver. 3, and xx. 16, 
17). What reality it showed, 'for better, for 
worse/ Let us not shrink from entering into 
covenant with God. Away with faithless fears — 
' I may not be able to keep it/ etc., and half- 
hearted looking back to the world ! See what a 
Friend we have in Jesus ! His favour is better 
than life, and then desire to l present your bodies 
a living sacrifice,' etc. (Rom. xii. 1). He will keep 
us. Jonathan's love was unselfish, self-renouncing ; 
it led him to strip off his robe, sword, etc., to forego 
his own right to succeed his father, to endanger his 
own life (1 Sam. xviii. 4). But his love did not go 
far enough. Though he gave David his robe, etc., 
he did not give himself; he still held with his 
father. (' He that loveth father . . . more than 
Me is not worthy of Me,' Matt. x. 37.) ' Natural ? ' 
Yes, but 'the friendship of the world is enmity 



BIBLE NOTES. 153 



with God ' (J as. iv. 4). ' Could do more for David by 
staying at court ? ' But did he do any great service 
there? How far greater if he had declared for David 
as God's anointed whom He had promised to estab- 
lish ! His underhand, half-hearted conduct led to 
David's flight and wanderings and persecutions. 
True he remonstrated with Saul, like Nicodemus 
(John vii. 50), but yet he remained ' one with him/ 
on the side of David's enemies ; as he took side 
with them at first, so he continued. Perhaps he 
waited for ' a more convenient season/ — his fathers 
death, — then he would declare for David ; but that 
time never came. Holding to Saul, he perished 
with Saul. (1 Sam. xxxi.) Had Jonathan had 
courage, faith to follow David, he would have 
been in ' safe-guard/ and have been ' next unto 
him.' David remained faithful, but Jonathan, 
refraining to be with him, lost the fulfilment of 
his covenant. What a picture ! How plainly is 
Jonathan like the ' almost persuaded ' — loving, 
respecting, giving something to, doing something 
for, but not giving self to Christ Jesus, — not ready 
to * count all things but loss' to win Christ, — not 
ready to follow * whithersoever ' ! No cross, no 
crown ; and the end — slain with David's enemies ! 
How Jonathan might have supported and helped 
David's cause ! Alas ! how many who should be 
on the Lord's side are with the Sauls of popery, 
the world, anarchy, infidelity, etc. etc. 

Look up from man's faithlessness and failures 
to our David. He does not ask for more than He 
gave — 'Who loved me and gave Himself (or me ' 
(Gal. ii. 20). ' Look not every man on his own 



154 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

things, but every man also on the things of others ' 
(Phil. ii. 4). Let us not be of the number of them 
' who draw back unto perdition ; but of them that 
believe to the saving of the soul' (Heb. x. 39). 
Yet He 'abideth faithful' (2 Tim. ii. 13). He 
says, l Those that Thou gavest Me I have kept ' 
(John xvii. 12). ' Having loved His own which 
were in the world, He loved them unto the end ' 
(John xiii. 1). Oh to be ' true-hearted, whole- 
hearted, faithful, and loyal ! ' 



THUNDER AND LIGHTNING. 

Job xxxvii. 

' Hear attentively the noise of His voice . . . He 
directeth it under the whole heaven, and His 
lightnings unto the ends of the earth. After it a 
voice roareth : He thundereth with the voice of 
His excellency ; and He will not stay them when 
His voice is heard ' (Job. xxxvii. 2-4). Whose 
voice is this ? ' The voice of the LORD ' (Ps. xxix. 
4). What is the voice ? ' God thundereth mar- 
vellously with His voice' (Job xxxvii. 5). 'The 
voice of the Lord is upon the waters ; the God 
of glory thundereth ' (Ps. xxix. 3). Attend to it 
(Job xxxvii. 2) ; this is one way of learning of God. 
What is thunder? The sound made by the air, 
which has been parted by the lightning flash, when 
it closes again. Lightning is electricity, when a 
great force of it has collected and is given out of 



BIBLE NOTES. 155 



the clouds. God gives it out of the clouds (' He 
maketh lightnings for the rain/ Ps. cxxxv. 7), 
when and where He sees fit. Light and air prove 
His goodness to man ; what do thunder and 
stormy winds show ? ' He causeth it to come, 
whether for CORRECTION, or for His land, or for 
MERCY' (Job xxxvii. 13). For 'correction' or 
punishment, for example, the thunderstorm in 
Egypt upon Pharaoh and his land — the ' great 
wind from the wilderness ' which overthrew the 
house where Job's children feasted (Job i. 19) — the 
( mighty tempest in the sea/ and ' great wind ' 
which overtook Jonah (Jonah i. 4) ; the i rain ' of 
( brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven ' 
upon Sodom (Gen. xix. 24). But perhaps storms 
are sent chiefly to correct man's thoughts. Man 
forgets God, and plans, acts, rules without God ; 
he does not own or reverence Him, so it is as if 
God spoke in majestic thunder, making us tremble, 
as if He said, ' I see, though you see not Me. I 
can kill man, and destroy his cattle and his crops, 
therefore remember Me, fear Me.' Storms are to 
' correct ' man's pride. Clever men get to think 
they can do everything ; this is their greatest 
danger. The thunderstorm says, ' God is over all, 
— what can you do against the lightning flash, the 
rain-torrent, or the mighty blast of wind ? Ever 
remember they are God's voice ! ' the l voice ' of 
1 the God of glory.' There is no sin or danger 
greater than pride and forgetfulness of God, so it 
is in i mercy' He 'utters His voice' to correct 
this. 

Examples of wind sent in mercy, see Exod. xiv. 



156 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

21, 'The Lord caused the sea to go back by a 
strong east wind all that night, and made the sea 
dry land . . . and the children of Israel went into 
the midst of the sea upon the dry ground.' 
Num. xi. 31, 'A wind from the Lord brought 
quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp.' 
A wind in mercy to England destroyed the Spanish 
Armada. 

Storms clear and purify the air, and so destroy 
many injurious things — for example, blight and 
disease. 

A lightning flash showed an officer that he was 
urging his horse over the edge of a precipice — was 
not this in mercy ? 

Lightning is sometimes a messenger of death ; 
and so are earthquakes and storms. Example is 
made of one person or place to show what God 
could do to all — thus warning others. If lightning 
makes a man think of his soul and eternity, is it 
not kind of God to send it ? Are you ready ? 
What will make you so? You need what will 
cover you from God's just anger against sin — 
something to clothe your soul, and fit you to 
stand before Him. All this is to be found in the 
Lord Jesus Christ. He is a lightning-conductor 
for you ; a shelter from the storm of God's wrath, 
and a robe to cover your soul before a holy God. 
In Him you may be ' accepted, perfect, and com- 
plete.' Are you saved ? are you safe in Him ? If 
not, why not ? God has provided safety — an ark, 
a rock of defence, for you in Himself. 

1 Beneath the shadow of Thy wing 
Thy saints have dwelt secure.' 



BIBLE NOTES. 157 



But are you safe under it ? He says c Cornel — but 
you say ' not yet/ and dare to neglect or refuse 
His call. Do you not deserve that the next flash 
should strike you ? * To-day, if ye will hear His 
voice, harden not your hearts ' (Heb. iv. 7). 

August 19. 



THE WORKS OF THE LORD. 

Psalm civ. i and 33-35. 

' Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, 
Thou art very great ; Thou art clothed with 
honour and majesty. I will sing unto the Lord as 
long as I live ; I will sing praise to my God while 
I have my being. My meditation of Him shall 
be sweet : I will be glad in the Lord. . . . Bless 
thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord/ 
What praise, gladness, delight in God do these 
verses express ! What was the cause of it ? 
Looking at, and considering His works, led David 
to admire and adore. He learned God's wisdom 
and goodness. See ver. 24, ' O Lord, how manifold 
are Thy works ! in wisdom hast Thou made them 
all.' ' The works of the Lord are great, sought 
out of all them that have pleasure therein. His 
work is honourable and glorious ' (Ps. cxi. 2, 3) ; 
also look at Ps. cxlv. So let us be 'wise and 
observe these things' (Ps. cvii. 43). One way of 
judging of a man is by his works, e.g. in choos- 
ing a builder, painter, gardener. We know and 



158 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

judge of ancient poets and painters, etc., by their 
works. 

What is the finest building you have seen? 
Think of Worcester Cathedral. How came it 
there ? Not like a mushroom ! What persons 
were employed ? Masons of course ! But how did 
they know what to build ? Some one must have 
directed — one who planned — the architect. Could 
you plan or design such an edifice ? then the archi- 
tect had a greater mind than you. Such strong, 
grand arches and pillars, such light, elegant orna- 
ment and carving. How clever, how skilful ! And 
what builder and workman did it all ? No doubt 
there were such — it could not have been built 
without them. Why make it ? is it of no use ? 
Yes, for a grand and right good purpose. 

But there is a far greater Temple for you to ex- 
plore and admire. Its floor is inlaid with various 
stones, slate, granite, marble ; and carpeted so 
beautifully, chiefly with green, but variegated, — a 
carpet never worn out, ever renewing, — a temple 
full of beauty and good things. Its roof is high 
as heaven, lighted by God's own lamps. I want 
to help you to look at it, so that you may judge 
of its Builder. Suppose you never had any Bible 
teaching, how might you know the Maker of the 
world? Look and reason. How came it to be so 
beautiful, so suited to man's wants and comforts ? 
If I tread on a mole-hill or ant-hill, or see a bird's 
nest, I know what made them, and I know their 
purposes. If I pick up a nail, key, pencil, or 
watch, I know a maker with brains and hands 
made them for a purpose. When I look at large 



BIBLE NOTES. 159 



houses, mills, manufactories, churches, I feel greater 
minds planned them for greater purposes. Then 
must not the world itself have been planned and 
made by One greater than man ! The more wise 
men examine the world, the more proofs shine out 
that it was made with design > planned and created to 
suit man's wants — that it is the work of some master- 
mind. Every journey I take makes me say, * O 
Lord, how manifold are Thy works ! in wisdom 
hast Thou made them all : the earth is full of Thy 
riches/ 

Atheists say, 'There is no God' (Ps. xiv. 1), it 
is all by chance!! But angels say, 'Thou art 
worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and 
power ; for Thou hast created all things, and for 
Thy pleasure they are and were created ' (Rev. 
iv. 11). 'And they sing the song of Moses . . . 
and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and mar- 
vellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty ; just 
and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints ' 
(Rev. xv. 3). 

7.^1 June 1883. 



THE EARTH OR WORLD. 

' Who laid the foundations of the earth.'— Psalm civ. 5. 

For what purpose were the light and air, etc. 
made ? — they are God's creation, His workmanship. 
' The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof' 
(Ps. xxiv. 1). That thou mayest know how that 
the earth is the Lord's. Man must remember 



160 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

this. ' Where wast thou when I laid the founda- 
tions of the earth ? declare, if thou hast under- 
standing. Who hath laid the measures thereof, 
if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line 
upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof 
fastened? or who laid the corner-stone thereof?' 
(Job xxxviii. 4-6). What a contrast are the idols 
of the heathen, 'the work of the hands of the 
workman,' ' decked with silver and gold/ which 
must needs be borne, because they cannot move, 
to Jehovah ! ' He hath made the earth by His 
power, He hath established the world by His 
wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by 
His discretion' (Jer. x. 3-5, 10). What is this 
world which ' hangeth upon nothing ' ? (Job xxvi. 7). 
Not anything light. Sand, earth, clay are heavy 
enough, but granite, marble, slate, coal, metals are 
much heavier — then think of the whole 24,000 
miles weight ' hanging on nothing ' ! A bubble 
rests on the air because it is so very light ; but 
this weighty world, so much heavier than the air, 
hangs on nothing, for GOD holds it by His mighty 
power, .like the moon and stars in the sky. How 
great, how powerful, how wonderful ! ' For, lo, He 
that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, 
and declareth unto man what is his thought, that 
maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon 
the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God 
of hosts, is His name ' (Amos iv. 13). ' Hast thou 
not known, hast thou not heard, that the ever- 
lasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of 
the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is 
no searching of His understanding' (Isa. xl. 28). 



BIBLE NOTES. 161 



Those who know God may be sure that the earth 
is wonderful and beautiful ; but men not knowing, 
but who are wishing to find out what He is from 
His work, might learn His Power and Wisdom. 
What are these mountains composed of? Of 
granite, marble, and basalt, hardest and deepest. 
Others, of sandstone, slate, lime, not so hard, do 
not seem to be so old and not all made at the 
same time. So, although God created all ' in the 
beginning ' (God gave no date), long before Adam 
He was preparing the world for him. 

How do men make bricks, china, sugar, lime, 
etc. ? by burning and baking ; so these hardest 
rocks seem to have been formed by intense heat, 
— even now there are great fires within the earth 
— volcanoes are witnesses of this. Then the sea 
and the weather have broken and worn away much 
from these old rocks, and thus formed gravel, sand, 
and clay. So for ages God was preparing beautiful 
marbles, metals, precious stones, coal, for man's use 
now. What does this show ? God's FORETHOUGHT, 
Love, and Kindness. Another thing shown is 
God's PATIENCE. How ? Though God can, and 
does do many things in the twinkling of an eye 
(such as the late eruptions at Java), yet He does 
many others by slow degrees, and lets things work 
round as He sets them (like an alarum). By 
studying rocks man learns that many thousands of 
years seem to have been required to heat and melt 
and press granite, marbles, etc., into their present 
state, — when one set of rocks were formed, others 
were formed after. God thus shows His patience 
to us — He is forbearing to punish. So often if 

L 



162 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

one man provokes or injures another, it is followed 
by angry, hasty words, a sudden blow, etc. ; while 
God, against whom the sin really is, forbears, waits, 
and warns, and tries to lead to repentance. 

Why did God make the world ? ' He created 
it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited' 
(Isa. xlv. 1 8). Inhabited by whom? ' Let us 
make man in our image, after our likeness, and 
let them have dominion over ... all the earth ' 
(Gen. i. 26). Though rebels, God has bought back 
sinful men, and wills to make them happy and 
holy (and how patiently He works to make us so !). 
And He loves His redeemed ones so much that 
He is not content with this world for them, ' He 
hath prepared for them a city' (Heb. xi. 16), and 
sends His Spirit to prepare them for His own 
glory. ' We, according to His promise, look for 
new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth 
righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye 
look for such things, be diligent, that ye may be 
found of Him in peace, without spot, and blame- 
less' (2 Pet. in. 13, 14). 



Psalm civ. 6-13. 

Let us consider the next thing which David 
speaks of when glorying in God's great works — it 
is what you may see from Stagborough and Bewd- 
ley Bridge — water ! ' Thou coveredst it with the 
deep as with a garment,' — a covering as a ' wide ' 
(ver. 25) cloak to the earth. 'The waters stood 



BIBLE NOTES. 163 



above the mountains ;' their traces are left now. 
How came the lakes and rivers to sink down as 
they are now? Vers. 7 and 8 answer this, 'At 
Thy rebuke they fled ; at the voice of Thy 
thunder they hasted away. They go up by the 
mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the 
place which Thou hast founded for them.' We 
say 'the river formed its bed/ but God appointed 
all. ' They go down/ that is to the sea. What is 
' the bound ' that is ' set ' ? ' Fear ye not Me ? saith 
the LORD, which have placed the sand for the 
bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it 
cannot pass it ; and though the waves thereof toss 
themselves, yet can they not prevail ; though they 
roar, yet can they not pass over it' (Jer. v. 22). 

Then David speaks of some of the uses of water. 
Ver. 11, 'They give drink to every beast of the 
field/ Ver. 12, 'By them the fowls of the heaven 
have their habitation.' Ver. 13, 'The earth is 
satisfied.' There are many other uses to man — 
for life, health, refreshment (many other drinks 
are made from water), cleansing. 

Look at the Severn, and think and learn. Where 
does it come from ? God sends it, not only at first, 
but He keeps it flowing daily. ' He sendeth the 
spring into the valleys, which run among the hills ' 
(ver. 10). For what reason is it sent ? 1. See how 
it drains the lands, carrying off what they do not 
need. 2. It nourishes the ground ; for example, the 
floods over our own fields — also you may have read 
how necessary the Nile floods are for the irrigation 
of Egypt. ' Thou visitest the earth, and waterest 
it : Thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God. 



1 64 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

. . . Thou preparest them corn, when Thou hast 
so provided for it ' (Ps. lxv. 9). 3. It helps man to 
work, by turning his mills, etc. 4. It carries his 
burdens — wood, coal, etc. 5, It cools and purifies 
the air. 6. Carries off refuse. 7. It beautifies — the 
river is beautiful in itself — it makes the view, the 
country beautiful. Man's canals are ugly ; God's 
rivers are beautiful. How good and kind of God 
to give us so much pleasure by beauty ! 

Let us notice some Bible lessons from rivers. 

' He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of 
water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season : 
his leaf also shall not wither ; and whatsoever he 
doeth shall prosper ' (Ps. i. 3). Who is like a tree ? 
What keeps that tree green and fruitful ? So the 
godly man is refreshed by fresh daily supplies of 
God's grace, and thus he ever has something fresh 
to think and speak of: and his soul, being so 
nourished, refreshed, * delighted,' overflows to others 
— he ' prospers.' ' Blessed is the man that trusteth 
in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he 
shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that 
spreadeth out her roots by the river, . . . her leaf 
shall be green ; and shall not be careful in the year 
of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit ' 
(Jer. xvii. 7, 8). 

A river is a type of gladness. ' There is a river, 
the streams whereof make glad the city of God ' 
(Ps. xlvi. 4). A type of satisfaction now, * Whoso- 
ever drinketh of the water that I shall give him 
shall never thirst' (John iv. 14); and hereafter, 
' They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness 
of Thy house ; and Thou shalt make them drink 



BIBLE NOTES. 165 



of the river of Thy pleasures ' (Ps. xxxvi. 8). It is 
an emblem of peace. ' I will extend peace to her 
like a river' (Isa. lxvi. 12). ■ There the glorious 
Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and 
streams' (Isa. xxxiii. 21). '0 that thou hadst 
hearkened to My commandments ! then had thy 
peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the 
waves of the sea' (Isa. xlviii. 18). It is an emblem 
of how in times of soul-distress and doubt God can 
bring refreshment and gladness. ' I give waters in 
the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give 
drink to My people ' (Isa. xliii. 20). 

How and where can you find this river of God ? 
Ezekiel shows us, in ch. xlvii., that when the 
Word goes forth, accompanied by the Holy Spirit, 
people will be revived and refreshed, ' Everything 
shall live whither the river cometh ' (Ezek. xlvii. 9). 

Rivers are so refreshing and gladdening and 
beautiful, that a river represents the gladness and 
overflowing, continuing joy of heaven. ' He showed 
me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, 
proceeding out of the throne of God and of the 
Lamb' (Rev. xxii. 1). Is that river for you? 
Shall you walk in holy joy by its side ? How can 
you be fitted to walk there ? You must see that 
your robes are ( washed' and made ' white in the 
blood of the Lamb ' (Rev. vii. 14). ' Come now, 
and let us reason together, saith the LORD : though 
your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white 
as snow ; though they be red like crimson, they 
shall be as wool' (Isa. i. 18). 'In that day there 
shall be a fountain opened ... for sin and for 
uncleanness' (Zech. xiii. 1). Choose this, or see 



166 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE, 

the terrible alternative in Luke xvi. 24, ' And he 
cried and said, . . . have mercy on me, and send 
Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in 
water, and cool my tongue ; for I am tormented in 
this flame.' 

30th September 1883. 



DANIEL'S PRAYER. 

Daniel ix. 

This prayer was uttered in Daniel's old age. 
Try to remember some things we have learned of 
him. 1st, He feared God from his youth. 2nd, 
He was self-denying. 3rd, When God gave him 
wisdom and revealed dreams, he gave God praise. 
4th, He was faithful to the king (though new and 
strange). 5th, He was blameless in conduct. 
6th, He prayed regularly. 7th, Served God con- 
tinually. 8th, He believed, trusted in God. Now 
in his old age Daniel continues in prayer; so look 
at Luke xviii. 1, 'Men ought always to pray, and 
not to faint' ' Continue in prayer, and watch in 
the same with thanksgiving ' (Col. iv. 2). 

Why did he pray this ? Because he ' understood 
by books . . . that God would accomplish seventy 
years in the desolations of Jerusalem ' (ver. 2). 
Books showed him that the seventy years were 
nearly ended, so, hoping and expecting that God 
would fulfil His word, Daniel asked Him to do so. 
There is nothing like getting a promise to pray 



BIBLE NOTES. 167 



upon ! ' Remember the word unto Thy servant, 
upon which Thou hast caused me to hope/ For 
example, this Whitsunday take John xiv. 26, ' The 
Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the 
Father will send in My name, He shall teach you 
all things, and bring all things to your remem- 
brance, whatsoever I have said unto you.' 

Now see the first subject of Daniel's prayer. 1 1 
made my confession, and said, ... we have sinned, 
and have committed iniquity, and have done 
wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing 
from Thy precepts, and from Thy judgments/ Our 
Church teaches thus — first confession TO God. 
Why? Sins come between us and God, and so 
must be put away before we can ask new gifts. If 
you want a heartful of mercies, and joy, and peace, 
turn out the sins ! Learn from Daniel to call sins 
by their right names. Ver. 5, ' rebelling;' ver. 6, 
'not hearkening;' ver. 10, ' not obeying ; ' ver. 11, 
'departing;' ver. 13, 'not making prayer.' Say 
not, ' it is only a little sin,' ' I am not so bad as 

,' etc., but 'against Thee, Thee only, have I 

sinned ' (Ps. li. 4). 

What comforting came while he was confessing ? 
He remembers that ' To the Lord our God belong 
mercies and forgivenesses ' (ver. 9). But if God was 
righteous in fulfilling threatened punishment (' If 
thou wilt not hearken to the voice of the Lord thy 
God, to observe to do all His commandments . . . 
that all these curses shall come upon thee, and 
overtake thee,' Deut. xxviii. 15), how could He be 
' righteous ' in ' turning away anger ' ? Because 
Jesus 'made peace through the blood of His cross' 



1 68 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

(Col. i. 20). * Reconciling the world unto Himself, 
not imputing their trespasses unto them ; . . . for 
He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no 
sin ; that we might be made the righteousness 
of God in Him' (2 Cor. v. 19-21); and so He is 
'faithful and just to forgive us our sins' (1 John 
i. 9). After these encouraging thoughts see how 
Daniel continued to plead. Do not be content 
with one cry of ' God have mercy/ 

But who was all this prayer for ? Not for him- 
self. Do you pray for your country? Take the 
lesson. When you hear of swearing, Sabbath- 
breaking, dishonesty, etc. etc., pray over it. 

Now for the answer. When came it ? Vers. 20- 
23, ' Whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man 
Gabriel, . . . being caused to fly swiftly, touched 
me, and said, ... I am come to show thee/ Also 
see Jer. xxix. 12, 'Then shall ye call upon Me, and 
ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken 
unto you;' and Isa. lxv. 24, 'Before they call, f 
will answer ; and while they are yet speaking, I 
will hear/ Our Lord, when on earth, gave im- 
mediate answers ; and so He does now. ' Where 
two or three are gathered together in My name, 
there am I in the midst of them ' (Matt, xviii. 20). 

Who brought the answer? The angel Gabriel ; 
but our Great High Priest takes our prayers up in 
His own incense censer, and says, i I give! He is 
c able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask 
or think/ Now see this fulfilled here. Daniel had 
asked for pardon and return. What more was given ? 
He was shown things to come, and that Christ 
should come ! He is called here ' Messiah (see 



BIBLE NOTES. 169 



John i. 41, 'We have found the Messias') the 
Prince ;' so Isa. ix. 6, 'the Prince of Peace;' ' a 
Prince and Saviour' (Acts v. 31); 'the Prince of 
life ' (Acts iii. 15). When should He come? When 
seventy weeks of years from the going out of the 
commandment were fulfilled. So the Jews might 
know when He was coming. What was then to be 
done? 'finish' (or restrain) sin — (the great sin of 
the Jews in rejecting and crucifying the Messiah). 
He should ' make an end of sins,' or sin-offerings. 
How? By Messiah being 'cut off' in the midst 
of His days, 'but not for Himself — the one perfect 
offering — the Lamb of God, of whom all others 
were types. When He offered Himself without 
spot to God, God rent the Temple vail to show it 
was no longer needed. Messiah's offering made 
reconciliation. If you feel you have sinned, and 
wish that you could do something to please God, 
etc. etc., what is best to do ? ' Behold the Lamb 
of God.' But will God be reconciled ? ' When we 
were enemies we were reconciled to God by the 
death of His Son' (Rom. v. 10); 'God, who hath 
reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ' (2 Cor. 
v. 18). What wonderful willingness and desire to 
reconcile us ! — an example to us with others. Thus 
sin is taken away. What is to be brought in its 
place? 'Everlasting righteousness.' If 'everlast- 
ing,' whose must it be? ' My righteousness ' (Isa. 
li. 6). 'My righteous servant' shall 'justify many' 
(Isa. liii. 12). 'The righteousness of God' (Rom. 
iii. 21). For whom is it ? ' For us ' (2 Cor. v. 21). 
' That I may ... be found in Him, not having 
mine own righteousness, . . . but that which is 



i7o OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which 
is of God by faith ' (Phil. iii. 9). 

Whitsunday, 1881. 



THE LORD'S PEOPLE. 

Romans xiv. 8. 

' For whether we live, we live unto the Lord ; 
and whether we die, we die unto the Lord : whether 
we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.' 

( We are the Lord's'— by creation. Does that 
give peace ? ' Remember now thy Creator ' (Eccl. 
xii. 1). ' Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and 
formed thee' (Isa. xliv. 2). If your conscience 
says, ' I have not remembered, I have not answered 
the purpose of my creation,' there can be no 
peace, but ' a fearful looking for of judgment ' 
(Heb. x. 27). 

Some call themselves God's, but He does not 
own them. ' Many will say to Me in that day, 
Lord, Lord . . . and then will I profess unto them, 
I never knew you ' (Matt. vii. 22, 23). Then there 
is danger lest we should only seem, not really be, 
the Lord's. People in heaven must be God's, so 
look up there, and ask how they came there. 
' They sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy 
. . . for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us 
to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and 
tongue, and people, and nation ' (Rev. v. 9). ' Who 
gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver 
us from this present evil world ' (Gal. i. 4). See 






BIBLE NOTES. 



171 



also Isa. xliii. 1, ' Thus saith the LORD that created 
thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, 
Fear not : for I have redeemed thee, I have called 
thee by thy name ; thou art Mine.' ' Ye are not 
your own, for ye are bought with a price : therefore 
glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which 
are God's' (1 Cor. vi. 19, 20). 'The flock . . . the 
church of God, which He purchased with His own 
blood ' (Acts xx. 28). 

Belonging to God makes us safe, for — 



He knows us. 2 Tim. ii. 19, 
'The Lord knoweth them that 
are His.' 

He loves us. John xiii. I, 
c Having loved His own which 
were in the world, He loved 
them unto the end.' ' He loved 
me ' (Gal. ii. 20). 

He values us. Mai. iii. 17, 
1 They shall be Mine, saith the 
Lord of hosts, in that day when 
I make up My jewels.' 

He wants us to be with Him. 
John xvii. 24, ' Father, I will 
that they also, whom Thou hast 
given Me, be with Me where I 
am.' 

And so He will not let us be 
lost. John x. 28, 'They shall 
never perish, neither shall any 
man pluck them out of My 
hand.' 



I know Him. 2 Tim. i. 12, 
' I know in whom I have be- 
lieved.' 

' My Beloved is mine, and I 
am His ' (Song of Sol. ii. 16). 



' Unto you which believe He 
is precious' (1 Pet. ii. 7). 



He is with me. Matt, xxviii. 
20, ' Lo, I am with you alway.' 
Ps. xxiii. 
me.' 



Thou art with 



He sought me wandering and 
brought me back. ' The Lord 
is my Shepherd' (Ps. xxiii. 1). 



So secure, so safe, so certain of being ever with 
the Lord. ' If I am found in Jesus' hands/ It is 
worth everything to know this ! So then come to 
the point. Are you His ? If so, enjoy it, live like 



172 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

His children, ' unspotted from the world/ pure, 
'departing from iniquity' (2 Tim. ii. 19). 'What- 
soever is born of God doth not commit sin. In 
this the children of God are manifest, and the 
children of the devil' (1 John iii. 9, 10). 'Herein 
is our love made perfect, that we may have bold- 
ness in the day of judgment ; because as He is, so 
are we in this world' (1 John iv. 17). If you are 
not His, say, ' This is the last year I shall belong 
to Satan.' Say, • / will arise and go to my Father ' 
(Luke xv. 18). 

1 Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone, 
O Lamb of God, I come ! ' 

' Here's my heart, O take and seal it, 
Seal it for Thy courts above.' 



31st December 1882. 



THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. 

This is supposed by some to be the Epistle from 
Laodicea mentioned in Col. iv. 16. It was unani- 
mously received by the early Church as St. Paul's, 
and is quoted as such by Polycarp and Irenaeus 
and by Valentinus (about 120 A.D.). Though con- 
taining various doctrines, as election, the Trinity, 
much teaching about the Holy Spirit's work, the 
headship of Christ, and many practical duties, we 
are to select for this month — ' Unity — Christians 
are one in Christ.' 



BIBLE NOTES. 173 



Consider I. God's Purpose. ' That He might 
gather together in one all things in Christ ' (Eph. 
i. 10 to 20-23). St. Paul speaks of two who are 
to be united — Gentiles and Jews (ch. ii. 11-16) — 
and so we may distinguish these two in ch. i. 12, 
' That we should be to the praise of His glory, 
who first trusted in Christ.' We first believed (who 
had long looked for Messiah), and ver. 13, Ye 
Gentiles also trusted (who knew not of Him till 
after He came). 

II. This was the mystery which was not known 
but is now revealed, ' That the Gentiles should be 
fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers 
of His promise in Christ by the gospel ' (ch. iii. 
3-6). 'The middle wall of partition' (ch. ii. 14) 
{i.e. fence, thorn hedge, and often a wall also) is 
now taken away, and Christians from both sides 
are united in one. * According to the eternal 
purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our 
Lord ' (Col. iii. 11). 'Mystery', i.e. 'something into 
which one must be initiated, a knowledge of things 
unknowable without a special communication of it.' 
i Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries 
of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not 
given' (Matt. xiii. 11). 

III. See how this union is brought about. ' And 
having made peace through the blood of His cross, 
by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself 
(Col. i. 20, ii. 14-17). Mark the price of it, the 
price that purchased our peace and so makes us 
one with Him. But are we 'very members in- 
corporate in this mystical body' (Communion 
Service) united to Christ? 'Abide in Mr, and I 



174 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, 
except it abide in the vine ; no more can ye, except 
ye abide in Me ' (John xv. 4). ( That they all may 
be one ; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee' 
(John xvii. 21). Union with Him is more close 
than with any other. There is no true union with 
other branches, unless we are grafted in. Faith is 
the means of union with Him. (Gal. ii. 20.) We 
must touch the centre of unity. The more we 
enjoy this union and its blessings, its peace (' He 
is our peace/ ch. ii. 14 and ch. i. 4, 5, 6, 7, 11), 
the more shall we burn with desire to draw others 
into it. It was our Lord's desire (John xvii. 
11, 21), and as His life and love flow into us, so 
will ours flow out towards others. But think how 
safe we are if united to Christ — it was when He 
thought of His disciples' safety that He prayed 
this. But union with God is not only our safety 
but our highest happiness. Then we long for all 
to be united with us, not in mere outward things, 
but in union with God and with us. 

IV. But how are we to bring this beautiful 
theory into practice ? Look and see, ' There is one 
body and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one 
hope of your calling' (Eph. iv. 4, 5, 16), this with 
I Cor. xii. 4-13 leads us to look to the Holy 
Spirit's work. His influence is the ' bond of peace ' 
and unity between us. Then seek His teaching, 
revealing, and drawing of those with whom we 
desire union. There is much in this epistle about 
the Holy Spirit ; perhaps a reason for it is given 
in Acts xix. 1, 2, ' Have ye received the Holy 
Ghost since ye believed ? And they say unto 



BIBLE NOTES. 175 



him, We have not so much as heard whether there 
be any Holy Ghost.' 

Let us see what is said of His work. 

1. We are 'sealed by the Holy Spirit' (Eph. 

1. 13). 

2. He ' reveals' the 'mystery of Christ' (ch. 

Hi, 3-5)- 

3. We 'have access by one Spirit' (ch. ii. 18). 

4. The ' household of God ' is builded together 
through the Spirit' (ch. ii. 22). 

5. The Spirit strengthens us (ch. iii. 16). 

6. He brings forth fruit in us (ch. v. 9). 

He is the Spirit of unity (ch. iv. 3). There is but 
' one ' Holy Spirit (ch. iv. 4). ' The sword of the 
Spirit is the Word of God' (ch. vi. 17). 

The Spirit must not be grieved (ch. iv. 30). 

We should be 'filled with the Spirit' (ch. 
v. 18). 

We should 'pray in the Spirit' (ch. vi. 18). 

How much then we owe to Him ! 

In ch. iv. 1-6 we have a seven -fold oneness. 
There are many types of this beautiful union, one 
of which, the marriage union, is given in ch. v. 
24-27. Oh the depth and height of Christ's love, 
coming down to us in our sin, that He might wash 
and save us, then raising us up to sanctification, 
and then to share His own glory. There are 
other types of this union. — 1. The body, composed 
of many members. 2. The Church with its sections 
and members world wide. 3. Israel, though twelve 
tribes, and now all scattered, yet shall all be one, 
for God promises ' I will make them one nation ; 
they shall be no more two nations ' (Ezek. xxxvii. 



176 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

22). 4. The Universe with its vast numbers of 
systems, suns, planets, moons, is all one, all created, 
governed, and upheld by One mind. 

Seek to promote and enjoy this unity by 
prayer and converse, by mutual kindness and 
Bible study. 

(For Y. W. C. A.) 



THE CONSTITUTION OF ISRAEL— THE 
SUPREMACY OF GOD'S LAW. 

Deuteronomy xvii., xviii. 

The constitution of the nation of Israel was a 
theocracy. God was its former, possessor, and 
king. The land and the people were His special 
choice and possession, and therefore were governed 
only by His law. That law was given to Moses, 
and by him to priests and Levites (Deut. xxxi. 9), 
that they might keep it, and read it to the people 
(' Thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their 
hearing ') ; and teach it, * They shall teach Jacob 
Thy judgments, and Israel Thy law' (Deut. xxxiii. 
10). 'The priest's lips should keep knowledge, 
and they should seek the law at his mouth : for 
he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts ' (Mai. 
ii. 7) ; e.g. ' All the people gathered themselves 
together as one man into the street . . . and they 
spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of 
the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded 
to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law 
before the congregation, and he read therein ' 



BIBLE NOTES. 177 



(Neh. viii. 1-3). They were to judge and give 
sentence by it : ' If there arise a matter too hard 
for thee in judgment . . . thou shalt come unto 
the priests the Levites . . . according to the 
sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, 
shalt thou do' (Deut. xvii. 8-1 1). Men could 
make no appeal against it : ' The man that will do 
presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the 
priest . . . even that man shall die' (ver. 12). 
There were afterwards to be judges, then kings, 
and the priests were to help and counsel them ; 
they were to ' show/ * teach/ ' inform/ ' tell ' the 
sentence of judgment. 

The king was to transcribe the law, and rule 
by it : * It shall be, when he sitteth upon the 
throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a 
copy of this law in a book, out of that which is 
before the priests the Levites : and it shall be with 
him, and he shall read therein all the days of his 
life : that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, 
to keep all the words of this law, and these statutes 
and do them' (Deut. xvii. 18, 19). 

Deuteronomy is especially precious to us, as its 
authority is specially verified in the New Testa- 
ment ; also it is endeared by our Lord's use of it 
in His temptation. (Matt, iv.) He drew His arrows 
from it. 

Thus from Deuteronomy we see the origin of 
the first five books of the Bible. God spake the 
words to Moses, and Moses wrote them in a book. 
(So with the prophets, eg. Jeremiah and Baruch.) 
Moses was inspired while writing ; ' Holy men of 
God spake as they were moved by the Holy 

M 






178 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

Ghost' (2 Pet. i. 21). This writing was kept; 
' When Moses had made an end of writing the 
words of this law in a book . . . Moses com- 
manded the Levites . . . saying, Take this book of 
the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the 
covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be 
there for a witness against thee ' (Deut. xxxi. 
24-26). Thus their authority was patent to the 
Jews. In Deut. iv. 2 is a strict prohibition to 
add to or alter the law : ' Ye shall not add to the 
word which I command you, neither shall ye 
diminish ought from it.' Just so with all the 
'lively oracles' committed to the Jews, and kept 
for us. The Bible was given to, not by the Church. 
See Article XX. 



What are they but the dowry 
God to His Church has given, 

In giving her as heir-loom 
The oracles of heaven ? ' 



As it was the duty of the priests of old to read, 
teach, and decide by it, so is it now. St. Paul 
bids bishops and deacons to * meditate,' ' take heed 
to the doctrine, continue in it,' teach, exhort (1 
Tim. iv. 13-16), and 'consent' to ' the words of the 
Lord Jesus' (1 Tim. vi. 3); also to 'keep the 
commandment,' to continue in, to instruct, and 
preach the Word. See Article VI. 

The same authority is given to the New Testa- 
ment, and the same prohibition in Rev. xxii. 
18, 19, as in Deut. iv. 2 : ' If any man shall add 
unto these things, God shall add unto him the 
plagues that arc written in this book : and if any 



BIBLE NOTES. 179 



man shall take away from the words of the book 
of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out 
of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and 
from the things which are written in this book.' 
Clergy should still give ' the sentence of the written 
law/ and not take up new religious or false doc- 
trines. Remember, the Bible being the work of 
the Holy Spirit during more than fifteen centuries 
(and He still working by it), we need Him to 
reveal it to us and to our clergy. Let us see that 
we make it the rule of our faith — ' to the law and 
to the testimony/ etc. Pray, ' Show me Thy ways.' 
If we depart from the words or spirit of the Bible, 
it is because we depart from our God. Be like 
Bunyan's Christian, ever taking the roll from his 
bosom. The Bible is such a precious means of 
communication between us and our God, — by it 
the Spirit shines truth into our hearts, and reveals 
our God, ourselves, our past, present, and future ; 
our only hope, our one Way, and one Saviour. 
Let us think of the hymn, — 

' I cannot do without Thee, 
O Saviour of the lost.' 

For every care, circumstance, fear, want, wish, 
the Bible gives our Father's direction, sympathy, 
and comfort. 'The Bible is God's all-sufficient 
answer to all the needs of human souls.' If God 
is our God, our King, His word must be supreme 
to us ; it must have supremacy in our hearts and 
lives, — supreme, not only to guide and teach, but 
also to counsel and comfort us. ' In God's word 
will I rejoice : in the Lord's word will I comfort 



180 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

me ' (Ps. lvi. 10, P. B. V.). ' Whatsoever things were 
written aforetime were written for our learning ; 
that we, through patience and comfort of the 
Scriptures, might have hope ' (Rom. xv. 4). (See 
next Sunday's Collect, second in Advent.) God 
gave its ' great and precious promises ' to raise hope 
and expectation. i Remember the word unto Thy 
servant, upon which Thou hast caused me to hope.' 
' My soul fainteth for Thy salvation ; but I hope 
in Thy word ' (Ps. cxix. 49, 81). In every need we 
may find a suitable promise — read it, and take 
it back to the Great Prorniser, and ask Him to 
fulfil it. Spurgeon says, ' Banquet your faith upon 
God's Word, and whatever your fears or wants, 
repair to the Bank of Faith with your Father's note 
of hand, saying, " Remember the word unto Thy 
servant, upon which Thou hast caused me to 
hope.'" 

One proof of the intrinsic worth of Scripture 
is, — the more it is searched, the more its value 
and beauty appears. Again, the darker the night 
of trial, the brighter and more precious does it 
prove. 

{The last Y. W. C. A. Notes for November 29, 
1886.) 



BIBLE NOTES. 



181 



CHRIST'S LAST PASSOVER. 
Matthew xxvi. 

The last evening with His disciples had come, 
and for the last time Christ partook of the Pass- 
over with them. With desire He had heartily 
desired so to do (Luke xxii. 15, marg.); not for 
Himself, for all His desires had reference to His 
Fathers glory, or His people's good. Was it not 
for us, for He knew how much it would teach and 
cheer us. Let us look back to the first Passover, 
and how God appointed that should be kept in 
mind. Exod. xii. shows it was the time of Israel's 
greatest danger, not from the plagues of flies or 
fire or locusts, but the angel, the God-sent angel 
of death. The Israelites were exempted, not by 
any claim or merit, but by using a God-appointed 
token (Exod. xii. 7, 13.) On the simple use of 
that token, the sprinkled blood, did it alone de- 
pend, whether the destroying angel came in to 
smite them like the Egyptians, or whether He 
passed over to defend them. Notice the blood 
was sprinkled first, the feast came afterwards. 
We know how the guiltless, perfect, uncomplaining 
lamb was slain, that its blood might procure 
safety for Israel ; so Christ, our Passover, was 
sacrificed for us. 

Christ kept the Passover on the right day, 
Thursday, which was the Jewish eve of Friday. 
Though John xix. 14 says, 'preparation of the 



1 82 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 

Passover/ according to Jewish authority it means 
Passover Friday. 

If God desired His passing over the Israelites 
should be remembered, which was but a type, 
how much more probable He would have us 
remember the Antitype ; and this is just what 
Christ taught by the institution of His Supper. 
Oh to sit at that Supper, as with Christ, and to 
hear Him saying to us, ' Do this in remembrance 
of Me/ 

Three Gospels tell us of the last Supper. John 
supplements it with our Lord's discourses and 
other last words. Our Church reminds us how 
He took bread (not like our loaves, but large flat 
cakes), and blessed it, and brake it, and gave 
thanks. We, too, may give thanks at the conse- 
crating or setting apart bread to remind us of 
Him. We know Christ did not change that bread 
into His body, but bid us see that it represents it. 
Rejoice that our Church cast away that ' dangerous 
deceit/ and beware of returning to it. (Christ's 
words could not mean this bread is now My body, 
this wine My blood, for the one had not then been 
offered, the other not then shed ; it meant then 
what it still means and represents.) Besides, our 
Lord says, ' This cup is the new testament in My 
blood/ which means a covenant. (Jer. xxxi. 33 ; 
Heb. viii. 6.) The Old Testament was signed with 
blood. (Exod. xxiv. 3-8.) Heathens in covenant- 
ing c offered sacrifices, and prayed that they them- 
selves might so be slain, if they did not perform 
their part.' God taught Abraham how to make 
a covenant. (Gen. xv.; Heb. vii. 22, ix. 16, 17.) 



BIBLE NOTES. 183 



So then Christ would remind us of His new 
covenant for us, which He confirmed by His 
death — thus His blood is the evidence of the 
covenant. (Heb. xiii. 20.) ' The life that was 
made sin for us is gone, so the blood is exhibited 
apart from the body to show that it has been 
slain, bereft of the blood which was its life/ 

Christ's work of redemption is a finished work — 
hence we have not to repeat it, but remember it, 
1 Do this in remembrance of Me.' Let us then 
remember the exceeding great love of our Lord 
and Master, and think of all His sufferings as 
our Substitute — the finishing of the ceremonial 
law. Christ has wound up and fulfilled every 
type, every sacrifice is finished. Christ completed 
the great work of His Father's love in redeeming 
man, so may we remember, and rest on His 
finished work. Our Saviour is the Lord of life, 
who, by laying down that life, paid all, accom- 
plished and performed all that God requires for 
our salvation. 'Who is he that condemneth? it 
is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, 
who is even at the right hand of God, who also 
maketh intercession for us ' (Rom. viii. 34). ' Ye 
are complete in Him ' (Col. ii. 10). 



MORRISON AND GIBB, EDINBURGH, 
PRINTERS TO HER MATESTY's STATIONERY OFFICE. 



